“I regret not winning the African Footballer of the Year award” — Jay-Jay Okocha

By Monsurah Olatunji

Former international Austin Jay-Jay Okocha has revealed that his greatest career regret is missing out on the prestigious CAF African Player of the Year award.

The Super Eagles legend, renowned for his mesmerizing skills and creativity on the ball, enjoyed an illustrious career spanning over 12 years, playing for top clubs such as Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahce, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bolton Wanderers.

Despite winning major titles with the national team, including the AFCON title in 1994 and an Olympic Gold Medal in 1996, Okocha never clinched the African Footballer of the Year award, a feat that continues to haunt him.

Okocha was nominated for the award three times—1998, 2003, and 2004—finishing as runner-up in 1998 and 2004, and placing third in 2003.

His brilliance on the pitch earned him the title of BBC African Player of the Year three times in a row, a testament to his dominance in African football during his playing years.

In a Mastercard-sponsored Q&A with renowned media personality Toke Makinwa, Okocha was asked about his biggest career regret. He responded candidly:

“I’ve had an amazing career, and I don’t want to sound greedy, but I regret not winning the African Footballer of the Year award,” Okocha said.

“I thought I did enough to win it, especially since I won the BBC African Player of the Year award three times in a row. It wasn’t a fluke that I won those awards, but I guess it just wasn’t meant to be.”

Despite this regret, Okocha’s legacy as one of the greatest African players of all time remains undeniable, with his contributions to football still celebrated by fans and fellow players alike.