Former Manchester Metropolis midfielder, Yaya Touré, has confessed that Nigerian legend Mikel Obi ought to have gained the 2013 CAF African Participant of the 12 months award.
Each gamers had been prime midfielders of their time and gained the English Premier League with their golf equipment — Touré with Manchester Metropolis and Mikel with Chelsea.
Touré made historical past by successful the CAF Participant of the 12 months 4 occasions in a row from 2011 to 2014. However in a current chat on the Obi One Podcast, the previous Barcelona star stated Mikel had a greater yr in 2013.
That yr, Mikel performed a key position as Nigeria gained the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). He additionally helped Chelsea elevate the UEFA Europa League. In the meantime, Touré solely gained the English Neighborhood Defend, however was nonetheless named Africa’s greatest participant.
“You deserved it, Obi, to be sincere,” Touré advised Mikel. “Nigeria gained the AFCON, and also you had been key throughout that point. I used to be advised nothing by CAF. In case you had gained it, I might have been wonderful with it.”
Touré defined that attending the award ceremony might have performed a task in him successful the title.
“If we don’t present up, who will assist? The Europeans again their very own occasions, and we as Africans have to do the identical,” he stated.
Regardless of the CAF award snub, each Mikel and Touré loved nice careers. At present, Yaya Touré works as assistant coach for the Saudi Arabia nationwide staff.
