Jay Jay Okocha vs Japan (Friendly 07/10/2001, Southampton)

Jay Jay Okocha Highlights: Japan 2 - 2 Nigeria (Friendly 07/10/2001, Southampton)
Japan went ahead in the 26th minute when Yanagisawa scored with a glancing header from Ito’s cross. But the lead only lasted two minutes. Defender Eric Ejiofor’s shot, off a corner from Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Augustin Okocha, was deflected by Japan defender Naoki Matsuda into the Japan goal to tie it up at 1-1.

Takayuki Suzuki, who came on in the second half, broke the tie in the 57th minute. Substitute Toshihiro Hattori’s free-kick found the Antlers’ striker, who found the net with a left-footed volley.

But with 10 minutes remaining, Matsuda made a crucial mistake in the backline. The Yokohama F. Marinos player intercepted a long pass from Okocha but failed to control the ball. Julius Aghahowa stole the ball and drove into the box and fired home the equalizer to the joy of the noisy Nigerian fans among the 11,801 spectators in the stands.

Okocha made his official debut for Nigeria in their 2–1 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualifier away loss against Ivory Coast in May 1993. It was not until his second cap and home debut that he became a favourite with the Nigerian supporters. With Nigeria trailing 1–0 against Algeria, in a match they needed to win, he scored from a direct free kick to equalise, before helping the team to a 4–1 win, eventually securing qualification to their first World Cup. In 1994, he was a member of both the victorious 1994 African Cup of Nations squad.[14][15] And the World Cup squad who made it to the second round before they lost in a dramatic match against eventual runners-up Italy.

In 1996, Okocha became a key member of an arguably more successful Nigerian side, their Olympic gold winning side at the Atlanta Games, later nicknamed the Dream Team by the Nigerian press after the USA 1992 Olympic gold winning basketball team. In the 1998 FIFA World Cup hosted by France, Okocha played for a disappointing Super Eagles side who failed to live up to expectations again reaching the round of 16, albeit with less impressive performances save for their 3–2 opening win against Spain. This did not destroy interest in Okocha, who had entertained fans with his trademark skills and dribbles and went on to be named in the squad of the tournament.[16][17]

Okocha again joined the Super Eagles in the 2000 African Cup of Nations co-hosted with Ghana. He scored three goals in the tournament, two in the opening game against Tunisia, and then given a standing ovation by the nearly 60,000 attendance when he left the field.[17]

He made a return to the Super Eagles in his testimonial against an African select side in Warri. The game featured former players Daniel Amokachi, Alloysius Agu, John Fashanu, Benjani and Sulley Muntari. Nigeria won the game 2–1 with Okocha scoring the winning goal after appearing for the side in the second half.

In March 2004, he was named one of the top 125 living footballers by Pelé.

A quick, talented, and skilful playmaker, Okocha usually played as an attacking midfielder, and is widely considered by certain pundits internationally as the best Nigerian footballer ever, and as one of the best African players of all time.[18][19][20] He is still remembered by Fenerbahçe fans as one of the legends of the club and country. Okocha was known for his confidence and trickery with the ball, technique, creativity, flair, close control, and dribbling skills, as well as his turn of pace and his use of feints, in particular the stepover and his trademark turns.[20][21][22][23] Due to his skill and nickname, he was described as being 'so good that they named him twice' (a line immortalised in a terrace chant while Okocha played for Bolton Wanderers).