Flying Eagles needs our total support to succeed- Okocha

Babalola Tomiwa

Former Super Eagles skipper, Austin Okocha has revealed that building a structure that produces talents from the grassroots level remains the only was Nigeria football can return to its glory days.

The Flying Eagles will go to the Fifa U20 World Cup next month as African champions and favourites for the title after winning the Fifa U17 World Cup two years ago in the United Arab Emirates.

Okocha explained that Nigeria has not been able to translate the success they enjoy in the junior national teams has not been transferred to the senior level over time.

Still Okocha believes Nigeria could be on the verge of getting a new golden generation only if Manu Garba’s team is encouraged to continue in its stride.

“I think so, but we have to make sure that these youngsters can kick on. If we’re going to [have a golden generation], we must give them support and encouragement,” Okocha told Fifa.com.

“If we don’t give them the right backing, then it’s just going to be the same old story. We have youth teams that have shone in the past but which haven’t been able to push on at senior level.

“Let’s try and protect this emerging generation of players and help them mature. I think it’s important that we set up structures that allow us to achieve the kind of continuity we’ve always needed.”

The former midfield maestro also said that members of the Flying Eagles possess enormous potentials to be as great as him.

“One thing’s for sure: there’s an awful lot of talent among those youngsters. No two players are the same, though. Every player has their own attributes, characteristics and flaws, and their own story too,” he said.

Nigeria have been grouped with Brazil, Hungary and Korea DPR at the tournament which begins on May 31.