Okocha never won the continent’s best player award despite being one of the most gifted footballers of his generation
Former Barcelona forward Samuel Eto’o is convinced that Nigerian legend Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha was as talented and magical as Brazilian great Ronaldinho Gaucho.
But Eto’o is displeased that the ex-Super Eagles captain did not receive as many accolades during his career as his former Barcelona teammate.
Often regarded as one of the most gifted number 10s the football world has ever seen, Okocha enjoyed a successful career spanning almost two decades.
Okocha won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994 with the Super Eagles, and he was also instrumental as Nigeria won Africa’s first Olympic gold at Atlanta ’96.
In 2004, the former Bolton Wanderers skipper made Pele’s list of 125 living legends of the aport, one of only four African players — alongside Abedi Pele, George Weah, and Roger Milla — to make the cut.
While the other three Africans on that list are recipients of the CAF African Footballer of the Year award, Okocha never clinched the continent’s finest individual prize, coming close on several occasions.
Okocha even mentored Ronaldinho when the Brazilian was finding his feet in European football at French side PSG.
But while Ronaldinho went on to win two FIFA World Player of the Year awards and a Ballon d’Or, Okocha never came close to claiming any of those global honours before calling time on his career in 2008.
And President of the Cameroon FA Eto’o insists it is ridiculous that Okocha failed to receive the recognition his wizardry deserved.
“It’s the injustice of world football,” Eto’o said, as per Onvoitout.
“What we saw Ronaldinho do a few years ago, Jay-Jay (Okocha) had done 10 or 15 years before and he never had the recognition of others. And that’s what happens when it comes to Africa.”
At the latter stages of his brilliant career, Okocha was voted BBC African Footballer of the Year in 2003 and 2004.
And he claimed both the Best Player and Golden Boot awards at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations, where the Super Eagles only finished in third place.
The dribbling wizard was in 2017 named the best player to ever play for Bolton Wanderers Football Club at the Reebok/Macron Stadium.
This post was last modified on February 20, 2022 7:50 pm
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Same Okocha was once robbed of African Footballer of the year in favour of Samuel Etoo to the chagrin of global football lovers during the inglorious year of Isa Hayatou of Cameroon as CAF President. Good to see Samuel Etoo speak out even as he avoid talking about it.
Okocha was not serious when he was playing... he only played to satisfy himself.. he does not play with his team... he will play rubbish and start laughing.. which coach will ever want such player that is not productive? He is skillful but not productive..
Jay jay was firstly robbed of the CAF African Best footballer Award in 1998 where Mustapha Hadji won it. It was very unfair. The same Jay Jay who was denied of this individual honour is now been celebrated around the whole continent and world meanwhile Mustapha Hadji who was given the 1998 African footballer of the year is no where to be found now. Those who did the voting in 1998 African footballer of the year are wicked and bias folks.
Story tellers. Okocha was better than Dinho but went from PSG to Bolton Wanderers? Eto,o himself went from Mallorca or Madrid to Barca and then Inter. Even at old age Eto,o was signed by Chelsea. With great respect no doubt JJ was a magician. But showboating doesn't most of the time contribute to overall performance of a team. Kanu was a better player than JJ and his club history and trophy collection attests to that.
JJ mentored Dinho. But that doesn't mean Dinho was not a better player. Dinho mentored Messi and everybody can judge a better player between Dinho and Messi. Messi is now even regarded my many as the greatest of all time. However, that's a debate for another day.
My broda I’m Nigerian and ur analysis on dis week okocha issue is genius.u said it all brilliantly cos 4 any player 2 win these individual awards in football u have to play consistently in elite teams In Europe but okocha didn’t do dat.all d players who won d African footballer of d years played in elite teams and so deserved it over okocha cos he found himself in 2nd tier teams.thats d consequence u get when money is ur only priority as a footballer....
Okocha posted for psg too
There is no way he could win because he didn't play for an influential team. You can't move from PSG to Bolton and expect the world to watch you play. Yes he was a great player who mentored Dinho didnt play for Bolton....he had his chances but him and his agent was after the money, he could have easily played for Madrid or AC Milan or even Juventus or Man Utd when he left PSG but his agent wasn't interested in his personal development, he only after the money.
He doesn't matter whether he play for big club or not that's not the criteria to win Africa best player.
My brother, playing for an influential club was never a yardstick to selecting the best player in the continent. If that were so, those that won the award between year 2000 and 2003 would not have won it as they never played for the most influential clubs in Europe at that time. Eto'o was in Mallorca when he first won the award. The year Okocha won BBC African footballer of the year, he also won virtually all the awards available at Afcon such as most valuable player and highest goal scorer, yet he never won African Footballer of the Year that year. So, my take is that the award is more a function of politics than playing for influential clubs and brilliance
What's Eto'o saying when his compatriot ISSA Hayatou robbed Okocha to pay him.
PSG FANS SINGLE HANDEDLY DEMANDED FOR JJ OKOCHA AFTER 98 WORLD CUP.
Those Football administrators governing African football in days of Jay Jay Okocha was corrupt. They robbed him what he deserved. Very shameful, they should apologise.
Your right ...but since your in the mood of recalling injustice done to him, you should also own up to the fact that your country man Mr ISA HAYATU awarded u African football of the year in the year J.J was global y viewed as deserving it.....So bro do the NEEDFUL ,
You can start by
Okocha plays for money not award so nothing to write home about.. His so talented with skill to the extent of entertaining fans..tho I love him