‘Mikel Obi deserved to win 2013 Player of the Year Award’ – Yaya Toure
Former Manchester City midfielder, Yaya Touré, has confessed that Nigerian legend Mikel Obi should have won the 2013 CAF African Player of the Year award.
Both players were top midfielders in their time and won the English Premier League with their clubs — Touré with Manchester City and Mikel with Chelsea.
Touré made history by winning the CAF Player of the Year four times in a row from 2011 to 2014. But in a recent chat on the Obi One Podcast, the former Barcelona star said Mikel had a better year in 2013.
That year, Mikel played a key role as Nigeria won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). He also helped Chelsea lift the UEFA Europa League. Meanwhile, Touré only won the English Community Shield, but was still named Africa’s best player.
“You deserved it, Obi, to be honest,” Touré told Mikel. “Nigeria won the AFCON, and you were key during that time. I was told nothing by CAF. If you had won it, I would have been fine with it.”
Touré explained that attending the award ceremony may have played a role in him winning the title.
“If we don’t show up, who will support? The Europeans back their own events, and we as Africans need to do the same,” he said.
Despite the CAF award snub, both Mikel and Touré enjoyed great careers. Today, Yaya Touré works as assistant coach for the Saudi Arabia national team.
