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Last Updated: Thursday, 13 October 2005, 15:31 GMT 16:31 UK
Have Your Say
Jay-Jay Okocha
Is everyone in Nigeria praying for Okocha to bow out?
Welcome to BBC African football's Have Your Say section, where you express your views on issues getting under your skin.

There are issues emerging everyday, and everyone has an opinion. So if there is anything you want to get off your chest, then you have come to the right place.

You can also have your say about anything you like or dislike about the stories we have published.


This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.


Did I hear Nigeria and Cameroon saying they want to win next year's Nations Cup to make up for their World Cup failure? OK, we shall see. I guess Ghana, Togo, Angola, Tunisia, etc do not want to win the Nations Cup.
Chika Andrew, Texas - USA

I am very suspicious about the timing of Farayi Mungazi's open letter to Jay-Jay Okocha because it has been written at a time when Nigerians have just been taught a bitter lesson to never rely on an uncommitted player. In my opinion, Okocha will be remembered as an uncommitted Super Eagles captain.

The records and achievements of other national captains like Christian Chukwu, Stephen Keshi, Uche Okechukwu and Sunday Oliseh speak for themselves. We all begged Okocha to continue playing for the Super Eagles and he has given us what we truly deserve - the World Cup on TV!
Patrick Ige, Nigerian living in UK

Southern African countries must be given equal chances to host the Cup of Nations, just like their West and North African counterparts. Why is it that more than 99% of the tournaments are always held in West or North Africa? CAF should let fairness prevail in Africa.
Magaya Jachie, New Zealand

Opinions are like noses - everybody has one! Most football lovers across the globe are of the view that Africa's four World Cup debutants will be in Germany simply to make up the numbers, but they should remember that Senegal and Cameroon came from nowhere to surprise France and Argentina respectively.

Ghana, for instance, have performed very well at junior level. It is a good feeling for most people that the three lions in Africa, namely the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, the Atlas Lions of Morocco and The Teranga Lions of Senegal have all been caged. I will not be surprised to see one of the debutants getting as far as the semis.
Godson Osei Tawiah, USA

Bravo to Ratomir Dujkovic for leaving out Sammy Kuffour - and standing by his decision!
Godwyn, France

Nigeria's failure to qualify for the World Cup is a bitter pill to swallow. It is definitely time for Okocha to go. He has done well for us but let him please give others a chance. We would have qualified if he had retired earlier. Please go, Okocha.
Ade Deen, England

I am surprised that Jay-Jay Okocha has been short listed for the Fifa World Player of the Year award. He has not featured much for his Premiership club this season and woefully let his country down when he was most needed. Just how are these players short listed?
Kofi Afrifa, UK

I think we have all had enough of the Eagles, Lions, Foxes, Cows, etc. Cameroon and Nigeria have done nothing in the last two World Cups. It is time for today's better teams to represent the continent. Bravo to Ratomir Dujkovic for leaving out Sammy Kuffour - and standing by his decision! Ghana will get over Kuffour just like France have had to get over the Robert Pires factor.
Godwyn, France

I want to commend Ghana coach Ratomir Dujkovic for leading the Black Stars to their maiden World Cup finals, and in particular, his stance against Sammy Kuffour. Inspirational captain Stephen Appiah and the rest of the boys have already written history without Kuffuor. This coach has what it takes to move Ghana forward.
Steve Wiafe Brown, Canada

No doubt, Okocha has paid his dues to Nigeria and it is time for him to make an honourable exit
Arowogbadamu Adesola, Nigeria

I found your story 'Adu picks USA over Ghana' to be very misleading. Ghana does not need him at all. He is overrated and falls short of the level of talent in Ghana. I can't see him playing in any position in the Blacks Stars line-up.
Hayford Mensah, USA

I refer to your open letter to Jay-Jay Okocha. Don't get me wrong, I am one of Jay-Jay's biggest fans but I think it is time for him to call it a day. I don't think he is as versatile as he once was and he doesn't really show much commitment to Nigerian football anymore. Thank you Jay-Jay for being a great ambassador for Nigerian, but please it is time for the younger generation to shine.
Peter Otakoya, Scotland

I read your story entitled 'Adu picks USA over Ghana'. I think the heading is misleading because when someone is said to have picked one item over the other, then it means he has been presented with two options and has chosen one. As much as I would agree that Freddy Adu is a good player, I also want to say that Ghana has not offered him the opportunity to play for the Black Stars. Therefore, Adu has only one choice - which he has taken.
Daniel Opare Ayisi, Ghana

I am writing in response to Farayi Mungazi's open letter to Jay-Jay Okocha. From the start of the World Cup qualifiers, Okocha and other senior players have not had the right attitude towards Nigeria's cause. They chose to play in certain games and ignored others.

The over-reliance on Okocha by ex-coach Christian Chukwu cost the Eagles their World Cup ticket. But the midfield under coach Eguavon has changed drastically without Okocha. Here in Nigeria, we are praying for Okocha to bow out now.
Olatunji Bakare, Nigeria

I have just been reading through your list of players of African origin and I found it very interesting to see that some of the best players in the world come from Africa. I also have another player of African origin to put in your list - Burton O'Brien of Sheffield Wednesday.

He is from South Africa but is potentially going to be called up to play for Scotland, due to impressive performances when he played for Livingstone, and the problems regarding him not being able to play for South Africa any longer. He has not played for Scotland yet, but has for the under-21 side. But then when did Sean Dundee ever play for Germany?
Rob Jones, South African living in England

I am writing in response to Farayi Mungazi's open letter to Jay-Jay Okocha. Farayi can not be crying louder than the bereaved. The bereaved in this case are the Nigerians who are still mourning their World Cup exit. Okocha is one of the main reasons why Nigeria did not qualify for the World Cup. We relied on him and he disappointed us.

No doubt, Okocha has paid his dues to Nigeria and it is time for him to make an honourable exit. Nigeria can do what France did if we learn from our mistakes and do away with the old brigade in order to give birth to a new generation of players. The boys who played at the last World Youth Championship in Holland can step in and do the job.
Arowogbadamu Adesola, Nigeria




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