Mikel Obi Claims He Was Robbed of 2013 CAF African Player of the Year Award

Former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has made a bold claim that he was unjustly denied the prestigious 2013 CAF African Player of the Year award. Mikel, who had an exceptional year winning the UEFA Europa League with Chelsea and the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria, believes his achievements were overlooked in favor of Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure.

Mikel asserts that he was informed by CAF officials and his agent that he would be named the winner, only to be disappointed when Toure was announced as the recipient. The Chelsea legend feels he was robbed of the award, especially since it was the first time a player would win the accolade three times consecutively.

"In 2013, it was my trophy to be won," Mikel stated on his podcast. "I won the Africa Cup of Nations, I won the Champions League the year before and the Europa League the year 2013 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's claims raise questions about the fairness and transparency of the CAF Player of the Year selection process, particularly with the timing of Toure's hat-trick of wins coinciding with the CAF presidency of Issa Hayatou, a Cameroonian whom Mikel mistakenly thought was a fellow Ivorian like Toure.

Despite his disappointment, Mikel remains hopeful that his compatriot Victor Osimhen can bring home the honor that eluded him a decade ago, as the Napoli striker eyes the 2023 CAF Player of the Year award.