Posted by BBC Sports on
Okocha retired from international football in February Jay Jay Okocha's shock recall to the Nigerian squad for Saturday's African Nations Cup tie against Niger in Abuja has been greeted with mixed reactions.
* Okocha retired from international football in February
Jay Jay Okocha's shock recall to the Nigerian squad for Saturday's African Nations Cup tie against Niger in Abuja has been greeted with mixed reactions.
Okocha retired from international football after Nigeria finished third at the 2006 Nations Cup in Egypt.
But coach Austin Eguavoen brought him back following injuries to Lazio striker Ayodele Makinwa and Chidi Odiah, who features for Russian club CSKA Moscow.
Former internationals Best Ogedegbe and Ajibade Babalade said Okocha still has a lot to offer the Super Eagles.
"I have always said that Okocha still has a lot to offer this country," said former international goalkeeper Ogedegbe.
"I also believe the player can still play for the country for at least two or three years more before he can retire. Young players need to learn more under him."
Ajibade Babalade said: "Eguavoen has made the right decision by recalling Okocha.
"If France can recall Zinedine Zidane for the World Cup and the player single handedly took the team to the final, then Okocha's case should not be different."
However, former coach Adegboye Onigbinde, who took the team to the 2002 World Cup finals, declined to comment on Okocha's recall.
"Eguavoen is the man in charge of the team now and he knows why he recalled Okocha," Onigbinde said.