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- Yaya Toure had admitted John Obi-Mikel deserved to triumph the 2013 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award
- Mikel joins a database of apical Nigerian superstars who person missed retired connected the prestigious idiosyncratic CAF grant successful their careers
- Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman person precocious restored Nigeria’s pridefulness by winning the grant back-to-back
Nigerian footballers person consistently dazzled connected some nine and planetary stages, yet, erstwhile it comes to the prestigious CAF African Player of the Year award, the designation has not ever matched the performance.
While Nigeria person had a spot of occurrence with immoderate players similar Nwankwo Kanu, Emmanuel Amunike, and Rashidi Yekini winning the accolade successful the past, the state has experienced heartbreak astir of the time.
Source: Getty Images
Recently, erstwhile Ivorian prima Yaya Toure, speaking to the ObiOne podcast, admitted that Mikel should person won the 2013 edition, reopening aged wounds for galore Nigerian football fans.
Although Victor Osimhen ended the jinx for Super Eagles players successful 2023, becoming the archetypal Nigerian antheral footballer to triumph the CAF grant successful 24 years aft Kanu Nwankwo’s exploits successful 1999.
Ademola Lookman ensured Nigeria made past by becoming the archetypal state to person 2 consecutive winners of the grant aft dethroning Osimhen to instrumentality the crown successful 2024.
4 Nigerian players robbed by CAF
Legit.ng looks astatine 4 unfortunate instances successful which Super Eagles players were arguably overlooked by CAF for Africa's apical idiosyncratic shot accolade.
1. John Obi Mikel – 2013
Fresh disconnected an astonishing twelvemonth successful which helium won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Nigeria and played a important relation successful Chelsea’s UEFA Europa League triumph, John Obi Mikel seemed the wide favourite for the 2013 CAF award.
He was a midfield wide passim AFCON and proved himself connected the European stage.
Yet, the grant went to Yaya Toure, a superb player, nary doubt, but 1 who had not matched Mikel’s corporate and continental achievements that year.
.Toure himself has present admitted Mikel deserved it, making this snub 1 of CAF’s astir arguable decisions.
2. Jay-Jay Okocha – 2004
The ever-skilful Jay-Jay Okocha was connected occurrence successful 2004.
Source: Getty Images
He led Nigeria to a third-place decorativeness successful the Africa Cup of Nations, scoring 4 goals and lighting up the tourney with his trademark flair.
At nine level, the mercurial midfielder helped Bolton Wanderers scope the English League Cup last and kept them competitory successful the Premier League.
CAF alternatively awarded the grant to Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto’o, whose twelvemonth was little eye-catching than Okocha’s dazzling brilliance.
Many fans inactive presumption this arsenic a robbery against 1 of Africa’s astir talented entertainers.
3. Obafemi Martins – 2006
At conscionable 21 years old, Obafemi Martins had an explosive twelvemonth with Inter Milan, scoring regularly successful Serie A and the UEFA Champions League.
Martins was besides instrumental successful Nigeria's World Cup qualifying campaign.
Despite his unthinkable signifier and extremity tally, the grant went to Didier Drogba, with the Super Eagles guardant finishing third.
While Drogba had a beardown case, Martins' emergence and show were arguably much impactful that year, particularly considering his younker and consistency crossed competitions.
4. Vincent Enyeama – 2014
Goalkeepers seldom get the spotlight, but Vincent Enyeama forced everyone to instrumentality announcement successful 2014.
The Lille shot-stopper kept 21 cleanable sheets successful Ligue 1, astir starring his nine to a Champions League spot, portion besides performing heroically for Nigeria astatine the World Cup.
Despite his brilliance, Enyeama finished 3rd down Yaya Toure and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Many pundits and fans believed helium should person clinched the apical prize for redefining excellence betwixt the sticks.
Okocha laments not winning CAF award
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Okocha has opened up connected however CAF denied him the opportunity of winning the African Footballer of the Year Award successful his career.
So bully they named him twice, Okocha was 1 of the astir talented African footballers ever, but ne'er got his hands connected the coveted idiosyncratic award.
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Source: Legit.ng
