Former Super Eagles captain, Mikel Obi, recently voiced his discontent on the ‘Obi One Podcast,’ accusing the Confederation of African Football (CAF) of unjustly denying him the opportunity to secure the 2013 African Footballer of the Year Award.
The ex-Chelsea star asserted that he was overshadowed by Ivorian football legend Yaya Toure, who emerged as the recipient of the prestigious accolade.
Mikel emphasized his claim by pointing out his remarkable achievements in 2013, where he played a pivotal role in securing three significant tournament victories, including the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
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Despite contributing substantially to Chelsea’s UEFA Europa League triumph and Nigeria’s AFCON success, Mikel found himself on the losing end of the African Best Player Award.
Reflecting on his disappointment, Mikel expressed that he believed the award was rightfully his, given his instrumental role in winning both the AFCON and the Champions League.
He recounted the buildup to the ceremony, revealing that he had been informed by CAF that he would emerge victorious, only to be surprised by the announcement of Yaya Toure as the winner, who, according to Mikel, hadn’t achieved notable success in 2013.
Mikel Obi Recounted That CAF Had Assured Him Of The Award
“In 2013, it was my trophy (CAF Award) to be won. I won the Africa Cup of Nations, I won the Champions League, the year before, and the Europa League the year 2013.
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“And Yaya only won… he didn’t win anything and coming into the ceremony, I thought I was winning, the information was that I was going to win it, I was told by CAF I was going to win it,” Mikel Obi said.
This revelation sheds light on the subjective nature of football awards and the potential for discrepancies in the evaluation process, leaving Mikel Obi feeling aggrieved by what he considers a wrongful denial of his deserved recognition.
