 Okocha last played for Nigeria in the World Cup against England |
Nigeria star Jay-Jay Okocha has told the BBC that he decided not to quit the Super Eagles after being asked to stay on by the country's youth side, the Flying Eagles. Okocha, who captained the Super Eagles in the 2002 World Cup after Sunday Oliseh was left out of the squad, quit international football following Nigeria's poor showing that saw them finish bottom of their group.
He said he had been frustrated by an apparent stagnation in the Super Eagles team.
"Even before the World Cup I was thinking we had not been progressing," Okocha told BBC Sport.
"I was not in a position to change things anymore.
"I felt really bad and I made my decision, I said I have to quit."
But he said that when the future football stars asked him to change his mind, he was happy to reconsider.
"After the World Cup when I went back home, they spoke to me and told me to hang in there, at least for their own sake," Okocha revealed.
"That touched me a lot, so I said I would keep fighting and see if I can change some thing things for the young ones that are coming up."
However, he added that his change of mind did not guarantee he would figure in Nigeria's next game, a 2004 Nations Cup qualifying match against Malawi .
"I can't say for now because my club are struggling against going down to Division One, so that might depend on our position," Okocha said.
"It's always going to be difficult, because any team playing against Nigeria always plays as if it is the game of their lives."
MMIX
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