Daniel Akokachi has named John Mikel Obi as the greatest Nigerian player, reports Completesports.com.
Amokachi, who won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria considers Mikel to be the country’s standout player based on his achievements.
”Mikel is the greatest player,’’ Amokachi said on Brila FM’s Show “The Bull’s Pit”.
‘‘He has won everything that a player can hope to; the Champions League, Europa, AFCON in 2013 and he also captained the national team.
‘‘As a footballer, your laurels count and that will surely count for Mikel because nobody has won that much in Nigerian football.’’
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Mikel, who spent 11 years at Chelsea won two Premier League, three FA Cup and one League Cup titles with the Blues.
The 32-year-old also won the UEFA Champions League and the Europa League during his time at the Stamford Bridge.
On the international scene, Mikel won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations title with the Super Eagles and was part of Nigeria’s U-23 side that won bronze medal in the football event of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
He quit international football in 2019 AFCON finals in Egypt where the Super Eagles came third.
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COMMENTS
On the basis of Amokachi’s assessment it will not be out of place to state that Messi is not the greatest of all time as some people say because he has not won any international laurels at senior level
Of the modern Era yes but Kanu’s personal achievements of Caf best, Uefa champions league, Epl etc is the greatest of any Nigerian in the all time ratings. I hope you’re not envious Baba Amoo next time use Mikel is one of the greatest and not the greatest. Kanu has won Caf best and Olympic gold but Mikel doesn’t have this two….
This guy called Amokachi with his poor coaching record and technical advicer was given a big role in the Nigerian football sector by the government and judging by this utterances I can boldly say he will do us no good… The Bhuari led government has long been displaying mediocrity.
I think mikel is not in supereagles all time best 11 not to talk of alltime greatest. He may be his favourite which is allowed. My supereagles alltime 11 are.
Yekini kanu
Amunike okocha oliseh segun
Celestine uche taribo yobo
Enyeama
Bench
Ikpeba
Aghahuwa
Mutiu
Mikel
Keshi
Finidi
Oliha
Elaho.
Kanu is definitely Nigeria greatest ever… Mikel, yes a great player but sure won’t be amongst first 11 greatest like @ Collins Id sumptuously put it… Whats d hell is d bull smoking? Like @ Pompeii right said,trophies doesn’t really count for best, as football is a team sport n it’s takes a team to win trophy but being Africas best especially twice gives an indication of that Supreme class…
Kanu Nwankwo for me is the greatest Nigerian player ever, he won champions league with Ajax, Then UEFA league with Inter Milan, Olympics gold medallist, Two times African footballer of the year, Epl trophy, 2 FA cup, Carling cup, Community shield cup. U 17 world cup trophy, Afcon silver and bronze.
It is not a difficult conclusion to make. No brainers, Kanu is definitely Nigeria’s greatest in terms of achievement. It’s extremely difficult to imagine Amokachi is this uninformed and clueless. The only rational explanation to me is that he is either envious or he has something against Kanu.
Mikel is a great player, on of the most successful players to emerge from Africa when it comes to the content of his trophy cabinet. Having said that, it is a stretch to say he is the greatest Nigerian footballer. I disagree with the bull on this one.
I personally value trophies, but I don’t see them as the major parameter for measuring greatness. To illustrate, Florian Thauvin, the French forward, won the 2018 world cup with France, as a bit part player. He was on the bench most of the time. Yet, he’s won the biggest prize in football. Does that make him greater than other forwards who never won the world cup, such as Cruyff, Stoichkov, CR7, Messi, etc? Some players are fortunate to be in great teams and win trophies this way, even from the bench. That is the reality.
In my opinion,in addition to trophies won, we also have to look at other things. The way the player played (skills, artistry), the impact he/she had on the game, etc.
This is the way we can truly judge who the greats are. Not just by counting trophies only.
@Debo Bros you have said it all…the only trophy the king Kanu doesn’t have that mikel has is afcon of which he’s got a
silver
multiple bronze to show for it…
u17 wc,
Olympic gold,
Uefa cup,
Uefa champions league
Serie A scudetto
Italian cup
Intertoto cup
Premier league
Fa cup
Carling cup
Charity shield
Eredivisie
Dutch cup
AFOTY ×2
In Africa Only Eto and maybe George weah arguably has better credentials and both didn’t win the u17 wc
Legend mikel is only second to the G.O.A.T KING KANU in nigeria
Don’t also forget the special medals for the 1999 invincibles medal
Paipilo Kanu Nwankwo is unarguably the Greatest Nigerian footballer going by his achievement and overall impacts on games…unlike Mikel.
Kanu in his playing days was a game changer, he can change the course of game. That’s what makes a great player.
I would pick Rashidi Yekini ahead of Kanu and Mikel.
The greatest footballer of a country should not only be based on awards but collective contribution to the progress of Super Eagles. If Yekini had the opportunity of playing for top teams like Kanu and Mikel, he would have gotten more recognition.
The only player that can play for a lowly rated Victoria Setubal and still managed to win the Golden boot award in all European leagues.
The only player to account for more than 30% of total goals scored by SE to take our football to the greatest soccer event in the world.
The only Nigerian player to win Nation cup golden boots in succession.
Yekini (RIP) is the greatest Nigerian footballer ever.
The hallmark of great players (apart from their career awards and medals) are those “magic, unforgettable or game changing moments” they produce during the course of their careers.
Almost every touch by Kanu in club or national team colours was magical, even in his later years in the national team, coming off the bench with 10-15mins to go, Kanu would still weave something to change the course of the game. Not taking anything away from Mikel or Amokachi…..but Papillo is by miles the greatest Nigeria player of all times.
Amokachi only made his candid opinion, and mind you he Amokachi has played the game, and knows why he said Mikel is he greatest, all you trying to be pundits, and all you who think you can talk just be constructive like some few good anaylists. Amokachi only made his opinion, Mikel will salute you, and its for Nigeria, and all those crying Kanu, Kanu is also the best.
On personal performance Mikel is not Nigeria greatest. But if talk of number of team trophies he is greatest.Because no other Nigerian footballer exceeded him
Amokachi with due respect erred in his opinion even though his entitled thereto its however unarguably Nwankwo Kanu or JJ Okocha could have been chosen which many football lovers will undoubtedly chosen. To me personally JJ Okocha shocked the world with his unbelievable skills throughout his career if not being a black man could have at least won best footballer tagged ballon de or. Thanks
No JJ Okocha