Former Super Eagles captain, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, believes none of the current crop at the national level deserves to win the African Footballer of the Year award.
The 42-year-old, who is fondly remembered for his dribbling skills, wonderful ball technique and excellent skills, is regarded as the best player never to have won the award.
The former Bolton Wanderers skipper who was runner-up twice in 1998 and 2004 insists the level of his compatriots is nothing close to the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Yaya Toure.
“I don’t think any of our players at this moment deserves to be there because we are struggling this time around,” the 1996 Olympic Gold medallist said at the 2015 Glo-CAF Awards in Abuja.
“We must try to work hard to make sure that we will have one person in contention next time. Honestly speaking we are going through a rough period, but there is nothing to be ashamed of.
The two-time BBC African Footballer of the Year, however, conceded that Nigerian football has gone past its glory days and advised that all efforts should be geared towards a total revival.
“We all need to battle and make sure we return to where we really belong. We have signs that could suggest that we may qualify for Gabon, but we must work had to see it work out by acknowledging that first of all we are not doing very well, so we have to humble ourselves by starting afresh.
“Once we accept our faith at the moment, I think there will be a fresh beginning for us.
“Deservingly, we are at our current ratings because our results have not been very encouraging. We just need to accept it and then fight our way back. I have no fear about the Super Eagles qualification for Gabon 2017. You know that football knows no small or big country this time around.
“But we must first admit our that our current form is not that good, so that we can begin to put certain measures that will return us to where we should be by first seeking to qualify for the nations cup. I believe that Sunday Oliseh will give us the ticket for Gabon.”
The last Nigerian to win this award was Kanu Nwankwo in 1999 with John Obi Mikel and Vincent Enyeama coming close in the last two editions.
