Nigerian Legend Okocha Sends Strong Warning to Super Eagles Ahead of World Cup 2022 Play-Off vs Ghana

• Nigeria vs Ghana is gradually gaining momentum as both teams clash next month for a place at the 2022 FIFA World Cup
• Legendary Jay Jay Okocha who played against the Black Stars during his active days expect a very tough fixture
• Okocha has now urged the Super Eagles to do everything possible to get the ticket, even if they do not play good football

Former Nigerian international Austin Jay Jay Okocha has stated that any match involving the Super Eagles and the Black Stars of Ghana is always a tough one, GOAL reports.

Both teams battle next month for a World Cup ticket and Okocha who faced Ghana on a number of occasions during his playing days said that all that matters is for the team to get the ticket.

The first leg will hold at the Cape Coast Stadium on March 23 before both teams slug it out in the reverse fixture at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja four days later.

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And ahead of the double-legged encounter, Okocha said via Thisday:

“Ghana versus Nigeria match is never an easy one. It is more about the rivalry, it is a pride match and a bragging right one.

“For me, what is most important is to get the ticket. It doesn’t matter how, even if we don’t play beautiful football.

“What is important is getting the ticket to the World Cup in Qatar. It is the result that matters.”

The Super Eagles featured at Russia 2018, where they failed to negotiate their way past Argentina, Iceland and Croatia in the group stage.

At the just-concluded Africa Cup of Nations, Eguavoen’s side crashed out of the last 16 following a 1-0 defeat against Tunisia.

Okocha lauds NFF over Amuneke’s appointment

Meanwhile, Okocha is pleased with the Nigeria Football Federation board for appointing Emmanuel Amuneke among the technical crew of the national team.

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Amuneke joins Augustine Eguavoen-led technical crew as both ex-internationals who played alongside Okocha in the Super Eagles will now lead the team to the forthcoming World Cup playoffs against Ghana.

Okocha has thrown his weight of support for the pair as he believes Amuneke had been the missing personality in the Eagles’ technical department.

Jay Jay still popular in South Africa

Sports Brief earlier reported that Okocha was seen posing with a Kaizer Chiefs jersey bearing his name and player number from his playing days.

Amakhosi fans could only fantasise about an alternate history in which Okocha might have turned out in the club's colours.

He was in South Africa as part of a panel of experts during SuperSport's coverage of the 2021 African Cup of Nations in Cameroon.