Former Super Eagles captain Austin “Jay Jay” Okocha has shared his list of the top five African footballers of all time. His choices surprised many fans, especially because he did not include Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen or current CAF Player of the Year Ademola Lookman.
Okocha’s Five-a-Side Team
In a TikTok video that went viral, Okocha picked a five-a-side team made up of four attackers and one midfielder—himself.
Okocha had a long and successful career playing for clubs in Germany, France, Turkey, and England. He helped Nigeria win the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and also won a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. He’s played in three World Cups and is still considered one of Nigeria’s greatest ever players.
Here’s who he picked in his top 5 African players:
- Didier Drogba – Ivory Coast
Drogba is known as one of Africa’s best strikers. He won four Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy, and four FA Cups with Chelsea. Although he reached the AFCON final twice (2006 and 2012), he never won the tournament.
- Tony Yeboah – Ghana
Tony Yeboah was one of Africa’s top scorers in the 80s and 90s. He won three Ghana Premier League titles and led Asante Kotoko to continental success. In Europe, he played for Eintracht Frankfurt and Leeds United, where he became a fan favorite because of his powerful goals.
- Abedi Pele – Ghana
Abedi Pele played for the Ghana national team for 16 years. He had a successful club career in France, Germany, and Qatar. He became a star at Olympique Marseille, winning two Ligue 1 titles. In 1992, he became the first Ghanaian to win the BBC African Footballer of the Year award.
- George Weah – Liberia
George Weah is considered the best African footballer of all time. He played for Monaco, PSG, and AC Milan. In 1995, he won the Serie A title, the African Footballer of the Year, and the Ballon d’Or—the only African player to ever win it.
Okocha Praised by Former Teammates
Former Nigerian forward Peter Odemwingie recently named Okocha as one of the best three dribblers he has ever seen. They played together on the national team for several years, and Odemwingie said Okocha’s skill with the ball was incredible.
Jay Jay Okocha’s list highlights African legends who made a big impact in football history. His choices focus on players who inspired a generation, even though he left out today’s top stars like Victor Osimhen.
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