National Teams
“Apologize for what!?” — Okocha vows never to bow to NFF

By Monsurah Olatunji
Former Bolton Wanderers star Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha has made it clear that he will not apologize for his criticism of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) following the appointment of Eric Chelle as Super Eagles head coach.
The NFF recently announced that Chelle, the former Mali national team coach, would take charge of Nigeria’s national football team on a two-year contract.
However, the decision has sparked a wave of criticism from ex-internationals, fans, and football stakeholders, including Okocha.
Okocha expressed concern that Chelle’s appointment could derail the Super Eagles’ ambitions of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
In addition to questioning the new coach’s suitability, the iconic former PSG and Super Eagles player also expressed doubts about the competence of the NFF board led by Ibrahim Musa Gusau.
In a bold statement, Okocha stressed that Nigerian football will not progress unless the current NFF officials are either dissolved or reformed.
Despite the backlash, Okocha emphasized that he would not apologize for speaking out, asserting that his comments were made in the best interest of Nigerian football as a concerned stakeholder.
“If their decision is taking me to court, so be it. We can’t continue to keep quiet while things continue to spoil,” he told The Guardian, as reported by OwngoalNigeria.
“I have received a series of messages asking me to apologize to the NFF, and my question is, ‘for what? For demanding a better committee?’ No, I can’t apologize for simply sharing my opinion. Don’t we still have the right to freedom of speech in Nigeria?
“Football is the only thing that keeps Nigeria united. It’s our source of joy. If we politicize it, what will be our hope for the future? We must be free to express our thoughts and concerns.”