Okocha honoured with Fifa legendary award ahead of World Cup opener yesterday

FORMER Super Eagles skipper Austin JJ Okocha was presented with a Fifa legendary award yesterday just ahead of the World Cup opener between Mexico and South Africa in recognition of his services to football.

Okocha, 52, who represented Nigeria at the 1994, 1998 and 2002 World Cups, played for the Super Eagles between 1993 and 2006, earning 76 caps. He was part of the team that won the 1994 African Cup of Nations, the 1996 Olympic gold medal and got to the second round of the World Cup in USA 94 and France 98.

Despite not scoring at the World Cup, Okocha's mesmerising moves, defence splitting passes and commanding of the Nigerian midfield, made him stand out on the global stage. A thoroughbred entertainer through and through, he holds the record for most dribbles completed in a Fifa World Cup game.

In recognition of this, yesterday, Fifa awarded him with a retroactive Superior Player of the Match award. This initiative was coined by Michelob Ultra and football content platform Copa90 to honour standout individual performances from the initial World Cup tournament down to 2002, where the official Man of the Match award was introduced.

After receiving the award, Okocha took to his Instagram page to thank everyone. He said: I’m about to unveil this special award being given to me by Fifa. It was given to me for winning the Superior Man of the Match in a World Cup game, Nigeria versus Spain 1998.

“Special thank you to Michelob Ultra and Copa 90 for this amazing recognition. I’m so honoured to receive it."

Apparently, Okocha was given the award for his standout performance against Spain in the 1998 World Cup when the Super Eagles beat La Roja 3-2. In the match played at Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes in France, Nigeria gave the world one of its most entertaining matches ever with Mutiu Adepoju, Garba Lawal and Sunday Oliseh finding the back of the net.