Former Super Eagles captain Austin Okocha has expressed disappointment over never winning the African Player of the Year award, stating that he did enough during his playing days to deserve the honour.
Widely regarded as one of the most skilful footballers of his generation, Okocha played for the Nigerian national team between 1993 and 2006. He was a vital member of the squad that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and represented Nigeria at multiple World Cups, scoring 15 goals in 75 appearances.
His club career spanned several top leagues, with spells in Germany, Turkey, France, England, and Qatar. He featured for notable clubs such as Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahçe, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bolton Wanderers, earning praise for his flair and creativity.
Despite his impressive career and several individual accolades, Okocha never clinched the prestigious African Player of the Year award, even during his prime.
“I mean, at some point, I thought I did enough to have won it,” he told Oma Sports TV. “But at the end of the day, I have to take it and say maybe that’s life—you can’t have it all. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be, but of course, I thought I deserved it at least once. When you look at that list and see some of the people who won it during my time, then you’d agree it was unfair.”
His closest attempt came in 1998 when he finished second to Morocco’s Mustapha Hadji. He also placed third in 2003 and 2004, behind Samuel Eto’o and Didier Drogba, despite being named the best player at the 2004 AFCON in Tunisia.
Still, Okocha says he takes pride in the legacy he left behind.
“For me, the most important thing is to be remembered for an identity—and I am. I might not have won many trophies, but I won hearts, and for me, that’s golden. I don’t compare myself to anyone because I know how my career started, what I achieved, and I appreciate what football has done for me.”
