Former Super Eagles and Bolton Wanderers captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha says Nigeria has the potential to dominating the future Confederation of African Football, CAF, African Player of the Year Awards.
The former Eagles skipper told Complete Sports that the signs are there that Nigerian players will rise to rule Africa football again.
Okocha, who never won the Award, said, “It is not fair that no Nigerian player has been able to win the African footballer of the year since Nwankwo Kanu won in 1999. We have come close on some occasions but we will get there soon.
“I see the likes of young Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Troost Ekong, Victor Osimhen and others winning future African player of the year awards.
“It is a generation thing; our generation dominated Africa then we missed out for long. We’ll be there again.
“Iwobi, Iheanacho and other up-and-coming youngsters will definitely climb the rostrum as African footballer of the year in say two to three years’ time. I am positive about this.”
Algeria and Leicester City forward, Riyad Mahrez was crowned the 2016 winner of the African players’ most prestigious individual honour on Thursday in Abuja, http://dailypost.ng/2016/12/12/mahrez-named-2016-bbc-african-footballer-year/ and Okocha agrees with the announcement.
“Mehrez deserved to win the 2016 award because he won the league with Leicester in England and was voted player of the year.
“He is the first African to win such award in the EPL.”
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