Senegalese Fan Says Jay Jay Okocha Deserved More African Football Awards

(Austin Jay Jay Okocha. Photo by The Guardian Nigeria News)

Alioune Ndiaye, a Senegalese football fan, still feels Nigerian legend Austin Jay Jay Okocha was treated unfairly in his bid to win the CAF African Footballer of the Year award.

Okocha retired from football many years ago, but the debate over his missed awards continues among fans and analysts.

Okocha came close on three occasions.

He finished second in 1998, just two points behind Morocco's Mustapha Hadji.

He also lost out in 2003 to Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o and in 2004 to Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba.

To back up his case, Okocha was named BBC African Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004.

He was also named AFCON Best Player in 2004, after leading the Super Eagles to the title in Tunisia.

Ndiaye, an e-drive operator, told The Guardian that Okocha was a victim of dirty politics in African football.

I feel Okocha was robbed on two or three occasions, and that has been the problem with CAF, he said.

He added that this kind of politics in African football has been around for a long time.

Ndiaye said that if he had to choose between Okocha and Sadio Mané, he would pick Okocha.

He called Okocha the best dribbler to come out of Africa and said he was technically more gifted.

He said Mané is quicker with the ball and quicker in front of goal, and described the two as very different players.

However, Ndiaye said Mané is the bigger figure off the pitch.

He said Mané is treated like a king in his hometown of Bambali.

Ndiaye said Mané funded a public hospital that serves Bambali and nearby villages, so residents do not have to travel far for care.

He also said Mané paid for a public secondary school, gave out free laptops and internet access, and helped build a petrol station, a post office and a football pitch.

Mané also reportedly pays a monthly allowance to families in the village.

Ndiaye said he wants other top African players to follow Mané's example.