Okocha, Mikel Obi, Michael Essien… stars who didn’t win African Best Player Award
Jay-Jay Okocha didn’t win CAF best player award
Africa has been a productive house over the years, grooming great and fantastic football talents across the globe. Regardless of standout performances, impressive achievements and beautiful career spanning decades, some footballers who have been heralded amongst the greats in terms of African football as well as on the global scale have not had their hands on one of Africa’s most prestigious awards, the CAF men’s player of the year. This piece is set to discuss top players to not have won the award despite their standout performances throughout their career.
Austin Okocha
First on the list to not have clinched this prestigious prize in the history of African football is no other than Nigeria’s Austin “Jay Jay” Okocha who despite his prolific skills in dribbling and sharp goal scoring instincts across Europe and in African tournaments was not enough for him to get this glorious award. Once it come to the art of taking on defenders and opposition players and styles that dazzles fans and enthusiasts of the sport, no one does it best like Okocha. The Nigerian Icon, made people to enjoy football but when it came to having one of Africa’s most prestigious awards, he was often left out, perhaps for reasons of consistently having short spells at clubs, often getting transfers and the fact that he could not establish his talents in bigger clubs regardless of playing in tougher leagues like the English Premier League made him not to have his hands on the award. Asides that, Okocha career occurred with the likes of fellow team mate Kanu Nwanko and Samuel Eto’o who had a bigger performance for their respective clubs in Europe. Moreover, Okocha is a 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist and two-times BBC African Footballer of the Year but not the African best male player.
Michael Essien
Michael Essien is another, big player who had an exciting footballing career with Chelsea and Spanish giant Real Madrid. Essien who had two Premier League titles, a UEFA Champions League in 2012 and four FA Cups. He was one of Africa’s most dominant midfielders during his peak, particularly during his time at Chelsea. Essien’s box-to-box capabilities, defensive resilience, and ability to score crucial goals made him a key figure in Europe. Despite the Ghanaian winning numerous individual accolades, including Chelsea’s Player of the Year in 2007, Essien never clinched the CAF most prestigious award. His brilliance was often overshadowed by contemporaries like Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o, who were known to be strong attacking players as a long-standing tradition, the award has been dominated by players in attacking positions.
El-Hadji Diouf
Senegalese born El-Hadji Diouf is another big talent in African football history to have never won the African best male player throughout his exceptional career both for country and club. The former Lens, Liverpool and Bolton Wanderers player was amongst the FIFA World Cup Quarterfinalist for Senegal in 2002, which is one of Senegal’s biggest achievements in football history and also the AFCON Runner-up in 2002. Diouf was two-times BBC African Footballer of the Year. During his career, Diouf was a talisman for Senegal, leading them to the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals and an AFCON final the same year. Known for his dribbling abilities and tenacity to contributing to Senegal’s football growth and development, Diouf also shone in European football with standout performances for Lens and Liverpool. Despite being one of the most marketable African players of his time, controversies and inconsistent club performances gave him some disadvantage in getting recognized for the CAF award. Alongside that, the fact that he was present also during the time of Kanu Nwanko and Samuel Eto’o who more impressive for their respective clubs made him not to have his name as African best male player of the year.
Mohamed Aboutrika
A legend of African club football, Aboutrika’s lit up Egyptian and African football for over a decade. His ability to score in crucial games, including AFCON finals and CAF Champions League matches, made him a well-recognized national hero. Regardless of his big success with Egyptian Premier League club Al Ahly and the Egyptian national team, his lack of exposure in European football likely influenced his absence from CAF’s main award, as the award often favors players in European leagues and has been for long dominated by African players who are playing for clubs in Europe. Aboutrika won the AFCON title twice with Egypt, even more than the players mentioned and discussed above as well as the CAF Champions League for five times and was the African Inter-Club Player of the Year for four times. Yet with all these achievements, he still could not have his hands on the most prestigious award in the continent’s football history.
Honourable Mentions
Players to not have won the award throughout their career despite putting up beautiful display of talents for a long time are more than what was discussed above. However, the players above were more surprising than many others to not have had their names and hands on the award. Others who could still be mentioned include Nigerian ex-captain and 2013 AFCON winner, Mikel Obi, South-African Benni McCarthy, who was also the top scorer in AFCON held in Burkina Faso, Anthony Yeboah who was placed 9th in the 1993 Ballon d’or which was won by Italian Roberto Baggio and Ahmed Hassan who had over 180 match appearances for the pharaohs of Egypt and four-time AFCON champion.
While awards are a significant recognition of talent, they don’t completely capture a player’s greatness. These five players left a great mark on football, especially African football, inspiring millions with their skill, leadership, and dedication to the sport. Their stories serve as a reminder that true legends are not only defined by awards but by their impact on the game and fans across the globe.
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