John Obi Mikel recounts how he lost 2013 African Best Player award to Yaya Toure

By Wale Mustapha

Former Nigerian international football star, John Obi Mikel has revealed how he was denied the 2013 African Footballer of The Year Award.

The former Super Eagles and Chelsea midfielder was instrumental to Nigeria winning the 2013 African Cup of Nations, AFCON title where Nigeria defeated Burkina Faso in the grueling final.

Mikel would then lost prestigious award to Manchester City and Ivory Coast’ Yaya Toure despite his brilliant performance in the year under review.

Mikel in a recent interview, opened up that he was robbed of the award of the award by the organizers.

“I got robbed of the African Footballer of The Year Award. Before I went, I was told I won it,” he told Dubaieye.

“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,” he said.