Why I Never Won African Player of the Year — Okocha

Former Super Eagles captain Austin “Jay Jay” Okocha has attributed his failure to win the African Player of the Year award during his illustrious career to what he described as football politics.

Okocha made the claim while responding to a question on the ObiOne podcast, where he was asked whether not playing for one of Europe’s biggest clubs may have affected his chances of winning the prestigious individual award.

The former Paris Saint-Germain and Bolton Wanderers midfielder dismissed the suggestion that his club career was the main reason he missed out on the honour.

“No, no, no, not really. Not really,” Okocha said.

He, however, suggested that other factors played a role in determining the eventual winners during his playing days.

“I mean, I can openly say now that then, of course, a lot of football politics was in place, you know,” the Nigerian football legend said.

Okocha began his European career with Eintracht Frankfurt before moving through several prominent clubs, including Fenerbahçe, Paris Saint-Germain, Bolton Wanderers and Qatar SC.

Known for his creativity, dribbling ability and technical brilliance, Okocha became one of Africa’s most celebrated footballers during the 1990s and 2000s.

He was also a key figure for the Nigerian national team, representing the Super Eagles at several major international tournaments and captaining the side.

Despite his individual reputation and performances for both club and country, Okocha never secured the African Player of the Year award.

The award, which recognises Africa’s outstanding footballer, has historically been highly competitive, with players competing against stars from across the continent and those playing for major European clubs.

Okocha’s comments have renewed discussion about the factors that influenced award voting during his generation and whether players who competed for Europe’s biggest clubs enjoyed an advantage.

The former midfielder remains widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s greatest footballers, with his skills and performances earning him international recognition throughout his career.

His remarks also highlight the continuing debate surrounding individual football awards and the influence of voting patterns, club profile and broader football politics on the selection of winners.