Okocha bemoans Eagles’ lack of home ground

Former Super Eagles captain Austin Okocha has lamented Nigeria's struggle to establish a consistent home ground for the national football team since they ceased playing regularly in Lagos. Okocha argues that this lack of a familiar and supportive venue has negatively impacted the team's performance.

Reflecting on Nigeria's failure to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Okocha pointed to the crucial 1-1 draw against Angola in Kano. He questioned the decision to host such a vital match in Kano, suggesting the conditions made the Nigerian players feel like strangers. "How can we be playing last qualifying match if we know that if we win we will qualify? We took it to Kano, so imagine coming from London, from Chelsea, to go and play in Kano. The heat. So we were all like foreigners. So these are little things that they don’t understand," Okocha said on the OBI One Podcast.

“

How can we be playing last qualifying match if we know that if we win we will qualify? We took it to Kano, so imagine coming from London, from Chelsea, to go and play in Kano. The heat. So we were all like foreigners. So these are little things that they don’t understand.

Okocha emphasized that players need to feel at home, comfortable, and backed by passionate fans, which a dedicated home ground provides. "Your players have to feel at home. They have to be comfortable. They must have a home ground. During our time, Lagos was our home ground. We were spitting fire here. But after Lagos, it’s like we don’t have a home," he explained.

“

Your players have to feel at home. They have to be comfortable. They must have a home ground. During our time, Lagos was our home ground. We were spitting fire here. But after Lagos, it’s like we don’t have a home.

While the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo currently serves as the Eagles' primary home venue and is the only CAF/FIFA-accredited stadium for regular national team matches in Nigeria, Okocha feels it doesn't replicate the home advantage previously felt in Lagos. He noted that even in Uyo, the crowd's passion isn't the same. The National Stadium in Lagos, a historic venue, has remained largely disused despite revival attempts.

Okocha, who earned 73 caps for Nigeria between 1993 and 2006, believes fixing the issue of a consistent home ground is essential for the team's future success.

“

You go to Akwa Ibom, it’s like you’re playing away from home. True, because the crowd is not even that passionate there. These are the things that we need to fix.