Jay Jay Okocha and other stars get invitation to help Nigeria Super Eagles qualify for 2026 World Cup

Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has enlisted the help of Nigerian football legends like Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha to motivate his team ahead of their crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, are in jeopardy after a poor start to their qualification campaign.

The Super Eagles have failed to win any of their opening four matches. They drew with Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and South Africa, and suffered a defeat to Benin Republic. With just three points from a possible 12, Nigeria sits in fifth place in Group C, trailing the leaders—South Africa, Rwanda, and Benin—by four points, and Lesotho by one.

To secure automatic qualification, Nigeria must finish top of their group, meaning they need to perform well in the remaining six fixtures.

Chelle, who has been meeting with players across Europe to prepare them, believes that involving football legends could provide the necessary morale boost for the team.

Among the icons who have reportedly agreed to join Chelle’s effort are former Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu, ex-Bolton Wanderers captain Austin Okocha, former Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi, and ex-Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and current skipper Ahmed Musa who currently plays for Kano Pillars in the NPFL.

“I’ve called on Nigerian legends to help us in this fight, and I’m glad they’ve agreed,” Chelle said. “We will ensure the team is well-prepared and do everything we can to get back on track.”

Nigeria’s next key matches are against Rwanda in Kigali on March 21 and Zimbabwe in Uyo on March 25. Both games are essential if the Super Eagles want to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

Chelle, appointed as coach on January 8 after Augustine Eguavoen’s departure, faces a difficult challenge in turning Nigeria’s campaign around. A loss in both games would severely damage their qualification chances, forcing them to set their sights on the 2030 World Cup instead.

The 46-year-old coach is currently focused on the World Cup qualifiers and has dismissed any concerns about the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

“There are no small teams in AFCON—you must remain focused,” Chelle explained. “Right now, my focus is on my players and the qualifiers in March. We’ll think about AFCON later, but first, we must win these two important games.”

Chelle is expected to return to Nigeria soon to finalise preparations with the home-based players before announcing his squad for the upcoming qualifiers.