Former Super Eagles captains Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha and John Obi Mikel have explained how the names that became synonymous with their football careers came about.
The Nigerian football legends shared the stories behind their famous names during an episode of the Obi One Podcast, hosted by Mikel.
Okocha revealed that the nickname ‘Jay Jay’ was initially associated with his younger brother, James, before it was eventually adopted by him.
According to the former Paris Saint-Germain and Bolton Wanderers star, he grew up in a neighbourhood where several members of his family played football, making it difficult for people to distinguish between family members who shared similar names.
He explained that people began identifying him as Austin ‘Jay Jay’s brother’, and the nickname gradually became attached to him.
Okocha said the name also became more convenient when he travelled because some people found it difficult to pronounce his given name, Augustine.
Rather than abandon the nickname, the former Nigeria captain decided to make it official by having ‘Jay Jay’ included in his passport.
The football icon said the name has therefore become more than just a nickname and is now officially part of his identity.
Mikel, meanwhile, revealed that his famous surname resulted from an error made during an Under-17 tournament.
The former Chelsea midfielder said he submitted ‘Michael’ when officials requested his name for his playing shirt. However, when the jerseys were produced, his name had been printed as ‘Mikel’.
Instead of correcting the mistake, Mikel decided to keep the new spelling after enjoying a successful tournament.
He subsequently adopted ‘Mikel’ officially and eventually had the name reflected in his passport.
Both Okocha and Mikel went on to enjoy highly successful international careers with the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
Okocha represented Nigeria at three FIFA World Cups and played a key role in the country’s 1994 Africa Cup of Nations triumph, while Mikel was part of the Nigerian team that won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
Their revelations provide a glimpse into how two names that became instantly recognisable in Nigerian and international football were shaped by childhood circumstances and, in Mikel’s case, a simple administrative mistake.
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