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Former Super Eagles midfielder, Mikel Obi has opened up on how he was denied the African Footballer of The Year Award in 2013.
Recall that the former Chelsea star played a key role as Nigeria won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa after the team defeated Burkina Faso 1-0 in the final.
Despite his brilliant performance, Mikel lost out to Manchester City legend, Yaya Toure for the prestigious award.
Reflecting on it, Mikel in an interview with
Dubai Eye 103.8, stated that he was robbed of the award.
“I got robbed of the African Footballer of The Year Award. Before I went, I was told I won it.
“I was at the airport flying to Nigeria because the ceremony was in Nigeria, and Man City was playing, and Yaya Toure scored two goals.
“I won the Nations cup (AFCON), I won the Europa League and a year before that, I won the Champions League. There is no way I wouldn’t have won it. I knew I had won it. It doesn’t matter how many goals he scored. I was in my prime, playing a lot of games.
“You could have seen the ceremony. Before it was even announced, everybody left the stage, people left
4 Comments
Yes oh. It would have been you or no other. You were simply robbed
I think there are conspiracy and envy and grudge against Nigerian football and Nigerian players from some African countrise; since Nigeria had got Atalanta olympic medal in USA 1996,Nigeria star had shone in all the World soccer, this had given them trait and reputation, so so some African countries had been going on to destroy Nigeria football with ignoring to candidate Nigerian players for African annual awards, their sporting information had been smashing Nigerian football with committing it with corruption and declining; so these things had born envy and grudge against developed Nigerian football at that time which had killed players morales to gain any African award.But this time I think Africa must respect Nigerian football for brightening of new World class player called (Osimhen) who is a better African player in Europe and the World, so I think he must be African player of year 2022-2023.
That’s politics in sports for you. It’s who they want that they give to and not necessarily on merit. You merited it but they chose to give it to who is less qualified. Don’t worry bro. You’re far better than all of the today and they are consciously or unconsciously, directly or indirectly reaping the consequences of miscarriage of judgement.
That was how Austin Jay Jay Okocha was denied the coverted award in 2004 and 2008 respectively.
I have no respect for CAF awards any longer