Austin Okocha, former captain of the Super Eagles, feels it was unjust that he never won an African Player of the Year Award, stating that he made significant contributions during his prime.

Regarded as one of the most skillful footballers of his era, Okocha represented Nigeria from 1993 to 2006. He played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s 1994 AFCON-winning squad and the World Cup team. He netted 15 goals in 75 appearances for Nigeria throughout his international career.

Okocha’s club journey took him to various countries, including Germany, Turkey, France, England, and Qatar, before retiring in 2012. His career included stints at top clubs like Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahce, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bolton Wanderers.

Despite winning various individual awards throughout his career, Jay Jay was famously denied the African Player of the Year Award, even at the peak of his success.

Speaking to Oma Sports TV, he said, “I mean at some point, I thought I did enough to have won it, you know but I mean at the end of the day, I have to take it and say maybe that’s life, you know you can’t have it all.”

“Maybe it wasn’t meant to be but of course, I thought that I deserved at least on one occasion to have won it. You know, because if you look at that list and look at some of the people that won it during my time, you know, then I will agree with you that it uh it was unfair.”

“For me, the most important thing is to be remembered for an identity you know, and you are remembered. To be honest, I think I might not have won many trophies, but I won hearts and for me, that’s golden, so I don’t compare myself to anybody because I know how my career started, and I know what I achieved and I appreciate what football has done for me.”

Despite not winning laurels, the player is proud to be remembered for his identity.

In 1998, Okocha finished as the runner-up for the award, narrowly losing to Morocco’s Mustapha Hadji. 

In 2002, Okocha finished third, behind Samuel Eto’o and Didier Drogba, and the same outcome occurred in 2004, despite him being named the best player at the AFCON in Tunisia earlier that year.