Senegalese Fan Claims CAF Unfairly Denied Jay-Jay Okocha African Player of the Year Award

Posted : 06 November 2026

The debate surrounding former Super Eagles captain Austin 'Jay-Jay' Okocha's failure to win the CAF African Player of the Year award has resurfaced after a Senegalese football supporter questioned the decisions that denied the Nigerian legend the continental honour.

Alioune Ndiaye, a Senegalese e-drive operator and football fan, described Okocha's unsuccessful attempts to win the award as an example of what he considers unfair treatment in African football administration.

Speaking to The Guardian, Ndiaye said he still struggled to understand why a player of Okocha's technical ability never received the continent's highest individual football honour.

Okocha came close to winning the CAF award on three occasions. In 1998, he finished second behind Morocco's Mustapha Hadji, missing the honour by just two points. He also finished among the leading contenders in 2003 and 2004, when Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o and Côte d'Ivoire's Didier Drogba respectively claimed the award.

Despite missing out on CAF recognition, Okocha received considerable international acclaim during the same period. He won the BBC African Footballer of the Year award consecutively in 2003 and 2004.

He also enjoyed an outstanding 2004 Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Tunisia, where he won the tournament's Player of the Tournament award after helping Nigeria secure third place.

Ndiaye believes Okocha's technical quality made him one of Africa's greatest footballers. He also compared the former Nigerian midfielder with Senegalese forward Sadio Mane, explaining that he would choose Okocha if asked to select between the two.

"I feel Okocha was robbed on two or three occasions, and that has been the problem with CAF. This politics in African football did not just start today," he said.

He praised Okocha's dribbling ability, creativity and technical intelligence, particularly during his time at Paris Saint-Germain and with the Super Eagles.

However, Ndiaye was quick to acknowledge Mane's achievements, describing him as a different type of footballer. He noted that Okocha possessed superior technical ability, while Mane was quicker and more direct in attacking positions.

Beyond footballing ability, the Senegalese supporter identified Mane's humanitarian contributions as another reason he considers him one of Africa's leading football figures.

He highlighted the forward's investments in Bambali, his hometown in Senegal, where Mane has funded major community projects, including a hospital, a secondary school, a petrol station and a post office.

The hospital serves residents of Bambali and neighbouring communities, while his educational support includes providing learning facilities and resources for young people. Mane has also supported local families through regular financial assistance.

Ndiaye encouraged other African football stars to follow Mane's example by using their wealth and influence to improve living conditions in their communities.

His comments have renewed discussions about Okocha's legacy, the standards used in selecting Africa's best footballers and the responsibility of successful players to contribute to society beyond their achievements on the pitch.

Senegalese Fan Claims CAF Unfairly Denied Jay-Jay Okocha African Player of the Year Award

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