Former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has claimed he was robbed of the CAF Africa Player of the Year Award in 2013.
The 36-year-old former Chelsea star disclosed this on his ‘Obi One Podcast’, the midfielder claimed that he won the prestigious CAF award in 2013.
Recall that Ivorian and former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure received the 2013 CAF Awards, beating Mikel in a close contest.
Mikel Obi was pivotal as the Blues won the UEFA Europa League.
The midfielder helped Nigeria win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for the third time in 2013 and also played a key role in Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League triumph. He also won the Europa League in the same year.
But Mikel could only manage a second finish behind Toure in the 2013 CAF Player of the Year voting.
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“In 2013, it was my trophy (CAF Award) to be won,” Mikel said.
“I won the Africa Cup of Nations, the Champions League the year before and the Europa League the year 2013.
“And Yaya only won the CAF Award, 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 added.
Mikel made 249 Premier League appearances for Chelsea, which ended when he left Stamford Bridge in 2017.
