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Many notable Super Eagles football legends who, despite their immense talent and contributions to the game were never rewarded with the prestigious CAF Player of the Year award.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards ceremony is scheduled to be held today, Monday, December 16th, in Marrakech, Morocco, where the continent's top footballing talents of 2024 will be recognised.
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The most anticipated award is the African Player of the Year, with Ademola Lookman, Simon Adingra, Serhou Guirassy, Achraf Hakimi, and Ronwen Williams vying for the coveted title.
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Nigeria's Ademola Lookman is the frontrunner for the award, hoping to follow in the footsteps of last year's winner, Victor Osimhen.
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10:41 - 16.12.2024
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Nigeria is vying for seven awards this year, with Lookman facing tough competition for the Men's Player of the Year.
However, despite their immense talent and contributions to the game, some notable Super Eagles football legends have been snubbed and were never recognised with the prestigious CAF Player of the Year award.
Prominent Nigerian players snubbed
It has been a bitter experience for some Nigerian players in the past, as they were left disappointed despite their heroics for club and country.
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08:39 - 16.12.2024
Naija Stars Abroad: Super Eagles defenders outshine Lookman, Chukwueze and Iwobi
It was a weekend for Super Eagles defenders with Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze and Alex Iwobi all caged.
Here is a list of some Super Eagles stars who were snubbed at previous editions of the CAF Awards:
Finidi George
Widely regarded as one of Africa's greatest wingers, Finidi George enjoyed a highly successful career, most notably winning the UEFA Champions League with Ajax in 1995.
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His exceptional performances attracted interest from giants like Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) even ranked him as the 10th best African player of the 20th century. Despite these achievements, Finidi was never nominated for, let alone won, the CAF African Player of the Year award.
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12:36 - 09.12.2024
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The legendary Super Eagles icons suffered defeats on their away matches in the Football League.
The omission of the former Super Eagles coach remains a significant and puzzling point of discussion in African football history.
Jay-Jay Okocha
A truly gifted playmaker, Okocha is recognised as one of Africa’s finest. Known for his mesmerizing dribbling skills, flair, and creativity, he had successful stints at clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Bolton Wanderers, leaving a lasting impact on European football.
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14:40 - 28.06.2023
Why did Jay-Jay Okocha not win the African Footballer of the Year award?
Okocha never won the coveted CAF Player of the Year Award despite finishing in the top three on three occasions.
Despite his brilliance, particularly his heroics during the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations, Okocha was never able to win the African Player of the Year award.
Segun Odegbami
Known as "Mathematical," Odegbami is considered one of Nigeria's greatest-ever players and is the Super Eagles' second-highest all-time goal scorer (23) behind Rashid Yekini (37).
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He was a prolific goalscorer and is only the second player (after Laurent Pokou) to win back-to-back AFCON top scorer awards.
Notably, Odegbami was twice a runner-up for the CAF African Player of the Year award, finishing second in both 1977 and 1980.
08:39 - 16.12.2024
Naija Stars Abroad: Super Eagles defenders outshine Lookman, Chukwueze and Iwobi
It was a weekend for Super Eagles defenders with Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze and Alex Iwobi all caged.
The inclusion of these past examples serves as a reminder that even the most prestigious awards can sometimes overlook deserving candidates, and it adds another layer of context to the anticipation surrounding the CAF Awards ceremony later tonight.
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