Yaya Toure says John Obi Mikel was ‘robbed’ of 2013 CAF Player of the Year Award

By Dayo Awoniyi

Former Ivory Coast international Yaya Toure has admitted that John Mikel Obi was more deserving of the 2013 CAF African Player of the Year award, which Toure ultimately received.

Speaking on the Obi One Podcast, hosted by the former Chelsea and Super Eagles midfielder, Toure candidly acknowledged that Mikel’s performances that year, both for club and country, warranted the honor.

“You deserved it, Obi, to be honest, because in the league, the season was perfect. Nigeria won the AFCON, and you were instrumental in this period,” Toure said.

Mikel played a key role in Nigeria’s 2013 Africa Cup of Nations triumph and was also a vital figure for Chelsea, helping the club secure UEFA Europa League glory that same year.

Toure, who played for Manchester City at the time, expressed surprise at being chosen, revealing that he had not been informed ahead of the ceremony and questioned the process.

“The thing is, I was told nothing [by CAF], and I said Obi deserved it at the time. If it were me or him, it would have been fine, but the big question was me attending the ceremony. If we don’t go there, who’s going to support?” he added.

Mikel ultimately finished third in the voting—a result that has remained controversial among fans, drawing parallels with the 1998 snub of Jay-Jay Okocha, who lost out to Morocco’s Mustapha Hadji despite a stellar year.