Football federation congratulates Nkwocha, Okocha

The Nigeria Football Federation has congratulated former Nigeria captain Austin Jay Jay Okocha and Perpetua Nkwocha for being honoured by the Confederation of African Football at the CAF/Glo African Football Awards in Accra, Ghana on Thursday.

Mr. Okocha who is regarded as one of Africa’s best-known midfield impressario of all-time, was honoured with the African Legend award, while Perpetua Nkwocha received the marble for being Africa’s Best Woman Player of the Year, making her the best African player of all time.

“I earnestly congratulate Jay Jay Okocha, who is a member of the NFF Technical Committee, and Perpetua (Nkwocha) for their awards. They fully deserve these honours, and we will find a way to also honour them when we return to Nigeria”, said NFF President, Aminu Maigari, who was at the Awards Ceremony inside the State Banquet Hall, Accra on Thursday night.

Mr. Okocha was named the BBC African Player of the Year in 2004 and emerged the Best Player and Top Scorer at the African Cup of Nations finals in Tunisia the same year. He also captained the Super Eagles at the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals in Korea/Japan.

Ms. Nkwocha on her part scored Nigeria’s only goal at the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Germany this year – in the 1-0 win over Canada in Dresden.

Cote d’Ivoire’s international midfield player, Yaya Toure, who plays for English Premiership side Manchester City, was named African Player of the Year ahead of Ghana’s Andre Ayew and Mali’s Seydou Keita.