FORMER Nigeria International and two-time second runner up of the CAF African Player of Year, Austin Okocha, has affirmed that no Nigerian was outstanding in 2015 to make the final three-man short list of the top prize at Thursday’s CAF Award Gala night.
Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang edged out four-time winner, Yaya Toure to win the title, while Ghana’s Andre Ayew finished third.
Speaking shortly after the award in Abuja, Okocha said the situation should come as a ‘challenge’ to Nigerian footballers.
“We have to call a spade a spade… it is about time and I will be keeping it real. I don’t think any of the players at this moment deserves to be there, because we have been struggling recently,” he said.
He, however, expressed optimism that if the players worked hard, a Nigerian may end up winning the award soon.
“I think this should be a challenge to us, to make sure that next time we have one of us there,” he added.
Nigeria did not lose out completely as
National U-23 team midfielder, Etebo Peter Oghenekaro, won the Most Promising Talent of the Year 2015 award.
He beat his U-23 captain, Azubuike Okechukwu, Malian goalkeeper Djigui Diarra, Mahmoud Abdelmonem Abdelhamid ‘Kahraba’ of Egypt and Algerian Zinedine Ferhat to clinch the crown.
The player who plays for Nigerian top flight outfit, Warri Wolves, was one of the revelations at the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal last December, finishing as top scorer with five goals, including a brace in the 2-1 over Algeria in the final.
He was also instrumental to Warri Wolves finishing second in the Nigeria Premier League, and qualifying for the 2016 CAF Champions League.
Reacting to the accolade to one of their own, Warri Wolves’ management yesterday Etebor for winning the award.
In a statement, the club expressed happiness over the growth and constant improvement of the player in all aspects of his career, while expressing their belief the award would motive the player to work harder for more laurels for club and country.
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