Austin Okocha was the maestro of his generation and an exceptional footballer who dazzled everybody including his own teammates.
The midfielder iconized the number 10 jersey as the commander on the pitch at any time and his impact in Nigerian football sets him apart as the best football of all time.
According to his former Super Eagles teammate, Daniel Amokachi, Jay Jay was exceptional.
SFAX, TUNISIA: Nigerian forward Jay Jay Okocha in action 04 February 2004 in Sfax, during their African Nations Cup match against Benin. AFP PHOTO ISSOUF SANOGO (Photo credit should read ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images)
‘There are several eras in our football and several people will have their favorites from the list of great players like Mathematical Segun Odegbami, Adokiye Amesiamaka, Mudashiru Lawal, Jay-Jay Okocha and Mikel Obi,’ Amokachi explained.
‘But, if you were talking about winning laurel, certainly Mikel Obi is the greatest because he won everything you could win as a player; the Champions League, Europa, and the 2013 AFCON.
‘So, naturally, Mikel will be the greatest Nigerian player ever, but for me, the best of all time is Jay-Jay Okocha, period.’
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 10: John Obi Mikel from Nigeria celebrates winning the 2013 Orange African Cup of Nations Final match between Nigeria and Burkina Faso from the National Stadium on Februay 10, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Manus van Dyk / Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Okocha earned 74 caps for Nigeria in an international career that spanned almost two decades.
He won the 1994 AFCON with the Super Eagles and went on to captain the team to a couple of editions.
In 2019 Okocha was inducted into the Nigeria Football hall of fame.
