Nigerian Players Don't Deserve CAF Awards - Okocha

Former captain of the Super Eagles, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, says CAF’s decision not to name any Nigerian among the finalists for the African player of the year cannot be faulted.  

Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha at #ShowbizInteractiveWithGEJ, Lagos, March 15, 2015.

Speaking to reporters after the 2015 Glo-CAF ceremony held on Thursday, January 7 in Abuja, Okocha said Nigerian football has declined drastically in the past few years.

He says Nigeria should not be ashamed of going through a rough period and urged citizens to join in the battle to return Nigeria to the pinnacle of African football.

Okocha said: “I don’t think any of our players at this moment deserve to be there because we have been struggling. We must try to work hard to make sure that we will have one person in contention next time. Honestly speaking, we are going through a rough period, but there is nothing to be ashamed of.

“We all need to battle and make sure we return to where we really belong. We have signs that suggest that we may qualify for Gabon, but we must work had to see it work out by acknowledging that first of all we are not doing very well, so we have to humble ourselves by starting afresh.

“Once we accept our fate at the moment, I think there will be a fresh beginning for us. Deservedly, we are at our current ratings because our results have not been very encouraging. We just need to accept it and then fight our way back.

“But we must first admit that our current form is not that good, so that we can begin to put certain measures in place to return us to where we should be by first seeking to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations. I believe that Sunday Oliseh will give us the ticket for Gabon.”

Gabon and Dortmund attacker Pierre Emerick Aubameyang was named African player of the year ahead of Manchester City’s Yaya Toure and Swansea City’s Andre Ayew who were in second and third place respectively.