By Tolu Eludini
Former Super Eagles captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, has debunked viral social media claims that he was seen carrying current Super Falcons star Esther Okoronkwo in a photograph taken in 2005 at the Reebok Stadium in England.
The claim surfaced after Nigeria’s recent triumph at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), where 28-year-old Okoronkwo played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s dramatic 3-2 comeback win over hosts Morocco in the final. She scored the penalty that reduced the deficit and assisted with both the equaliser, and match winning goal. Her exploits in the final match earned her the Player of the Match award.
As fans celebrated her heroics, a post from an X (formerly Twitter) user named #BobMfonmma went viral. The post featured a throwback photo of Okocha carrying a young child on his shoulders, claiming it was Okoronkwo at age eight. The caption read:
“Jay Jay Okocha with 8-year-old Esther Okoronkwo at the Reebok Stadium in 2005. Anointed from childhood!”
However, in a response on PUNCH Online, Okocha firmly denied the claim, stating:
“That’s nonsense. This is my son,”
referring to the child in the image.
Okocha played for Bolton Wanderers between 2002 and 2006, making the setting of the photo plausible. But his clarification quickly laid the viral claim to rest.
Okoronkwo’s Rising Profile
Esther Okoronkwo’s performance at WAFCON has earned her widespread admiration. Initially used as a substitute in Nigeria’s opening matches, she quickly made an impact by providing two assists. She provided a total of 2 goals and 6 assists, making her one of the most standout performers at the tournament.
