Former Tremendous Eagles captain Austin Jay-Jay Okocha has admitted his disappointment at by no means profitable the celebrated CAF Participant of the Yr award throughout his illustrious soccer profession.
In an interview with Omasports, the legendary midfielder mirrored on what he believes was an unfair omission from the honours checklist, regardless of his constant brilliance for each membership and nation.
“I assumed I did sufficient to have gained it (the CAF Participant of the Yr), however on the finish of the day, I’ve to take it on the chin and say possibly that’s life,” Okocha mentioned.
“You possibly can’t have all of it, possibly it wasn’t meant to be. However I imagine I deserved in at the least one event to have gained it. As a result of if you happen to take a look at that checklist and take a look at among the people who gained it throughout my time, I agree that it was unfair.”
Okocha loved a exceptional profession that noticed him mild up stadiums throughout Europe with spells at Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahce, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bolton Wanderers. His dazzling abilities, creativity, and aptitude made him a fan favorite, incomes him accolades together with the BBC African Footballer of the Yr, which he gained a number of occasions.
On the worldwide degree, Okocha was pivotal to Nigeria’s success. He was a part of the Tremendous Eagles squad that gained the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and performed a key position in Nigeria’s gold medal-winning group on the Atlanta 1996 Olympics. He additionally completed as prime scorer on the 2004 AFCON.
Regardless of these achievements, the CAF Participant of the Yr award eluded him. His finest end got here in 1998 when he positioned second behind Morocco’s Mustapha Hadji.
Okocha’s remarks spotlight a wider sentiment amongst followers and pundits who imagine he deserved extra recognition on the continental stage.
He joins a listing of prime Nigerian stars, together with John Obi Mikel and Vincent Enyeama, who by no means gained the CAF Participant of the Yr award regardless of spectacular membership and worldwide performances.
