Austin Jay-Jay Okocha reveals how CAF robbed him of African Best Award

• Austin Jay-Jay Okocha was 1 of the astir talented footballers to travel retired of the African continent
• Regardless of his talent, helium ne'er laid his hands connected the coveted CAF Men's Player of the Year Award
• Years aft his retirement, the Super Eagles fable has explained however CAF denied him the grant successful 1998

Super Eagles fable Austin Jay-Jay Okocha has opened up connected however CAF denied him of the accidental 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.

Austin Jay-Jay Okocha playing for Paris Saint-Germain successful 1999. Photo by Gerard Cerles/AFP.
Source: Getty Images

Speaking to Omasports, the erstwhile Bolton Wanderers attacker has admitted it was unfair for him not to person won the award, but has moved connected from it.

“I thought I did capable to person won it (the CAF Player of the Year), but astatine the extremity of the day, I person to instrumentality it connected the chin and accidental possibly that’s life,” helium said.“You can’t person it all, possibly it wasn’t meant to be. But I judge I deserved successful astatine slightest 1 juncture to person won it. Because if you look astatine that database and look astatine immoderate of the radical that won it during my time, I hold that it was unfair.”

Okocha’s closest effort to triumph it was finishing 2nd successful the 1998 rankings, down erstwhile Moroccan planetary midfielder Mustapha Hadji.

Okocha's achievements successful 1998

JJ played the archetypal fractional of the twelvemonth with Turkish nine Fenerbahce earlier moving to Paris Saint-Germain for £14 million. He won the French Super Cup for PSG.

He starred for Nigeria astatine the 1998 FIFA World Cup held successful France, and contempt Nigeria going retired of the contention successful the circular of 16, helium was named successful the squad of the tournament, arsenic noted by Goal.

Okocha names Super Eagles' problem

The Super Eagles are astatine hazard of missing retired connected the 2026 World Cup. Okocha claims helium is inactive hopeful and pointed retired the main occupation the squad is presently facing.

Austin Jay-Jay dazzled for Nigeria astatine the 1998 World Cup successful France. Photo by Christian Liewig/Temp Sport/Corbis.
Source: Getty Images

“In my sentiment they play well, but they are not ruthless enough, they are not converting their chances, which I would accidental mightiness beryllium our biggest problem, due to the fact that if we person fractional of the chances we create, I person nary uncertainty that we would person won much matches than we person truthful far,” helium said.“I'm inactive hopeful due to the fact that of our mentality that ‘when the going gets tough, the pugnacious gets going’ truthful I'm not successful uncertainty that the players were committed and they cognize that they request to spell to the World Cup and that the full federation volition beryllium disappointed if we don't suffice particularly with the squad we have."

Okocha sends connection to Super Eagles

Legit.ng reported that Okocha sent a message to Super Eagles stars Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman arsenic the squad faces a imaginable lack from the World Cup.

Okocha, who played astatine 3 World Cups, shared his acquisition aft missing retired of the 2006 edition, what could person been his fourth, admitting that it inactive wounded him today.

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Source: Legit.ng