Excitement in Nigeria As Super Eagles Icon to Conduct World Cup Draws in Qatar

Excitement in Nigeria As Super Eagles Icon to Conduct World Cup Draws in Qatar

Chukwu Ikechukwu
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:59 PM
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A. A. Okocha
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  • Former Super Eagles captain, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha has been selected by FIFA to partake in the draw ceremony of the 2022 FIFA World Cup
  • Okocha will join other football legends, including Brazilian World Cup winner Cafu, to determine the group phase draws of the World Cup
  • Five teams, including Morocco, Senegal, Ghana, Tunisia, and Cameroon, will represent Africa at the World Cup after all teams booked their spot via the play-offs

Nigeria may not have qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup to be hosted in Qatar, but the country can boast of attending the draw ceremony holding on Friday, April 1st.

Former Super Eagles captain, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha has been selected by FIFA as a draw assistant when the draws ceremony is staged in the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre.

Nigeria, Super Eagles, World Cup, Qatar, Jay-Jay Okocha, FIFA, World Cup winner
Okocha represented Nigeria at three World Cup tournaments. Photo by Anadolu Agency
Source: Getty Images

According to a report via Soccernet, Okocha will join other football legends, including Lothar Matthaüs of Germany and Brazilian 2002 World Cup-winning captain, Cafu to conduct the draws.

Okocha has featured in three World Cup tournaments with the Super Eagles, with his first in USA 1994 before two other editions in France 98 and Korea/Japan 2002.

Nigeria, who has qualified for six World Cup tournaments, will not be involved in Friday's draws after failing to qualify for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup after losing to Ghana in the play-offs on the away goals rule.

Super Eagles legend Okocha shines at Dubai games

Meanwhile, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha was impressive at the EXPO2020 Dubai games on Tuesday, March 29 as the World Classic team tackled Abraham Accords.

According to Pulse Sports, the 48-year-old star was in action as the World Classic team defeated the Abraham Accords 13-3 in a charity event.

Robert Pires scored 4 goals for the World Classic team including the likes of Kaka, Javier Saviola, Carlos Puyol, and Clarence Seedorf.

Okocha, Fadiga score great goals as Senegal inaugurates magnificent stadium

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Jay-Jay Okocha was part of the football legends that graced the inauguration of the Diamniadio Olympic Stadium in Dakar, Senegal.

The Senegalese government splashed heavily on a multi-purpose stadium, which can host football, rugby and athletics and they have inaugurated it two weeks after their AFCON glory.

The Teranga Lions will now make the facility their new home ground as it has a capacity of 50,000. It’ll host the 2026 Summer Youth Olympics.

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Chukwu Ikechukwu
Chukwu Ikechukwu Godwin is a journalist with over 9 years of experience in the Nigerian media industry. He has worked both in Radio (Today FM, Rhythm FM, Wish FM) and Television (Silverbird TV) as a Sports Analyst..
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