John Obi Mikel: How former Super Eagles star was robbed of CAF African Player of the Year Award

Nigeria legend, John Obi Mikel has claimed he was 'criminally robbed' of the 2013 Africa Player of the Year award after a successful campaign with club and country.

Fresh off winning the UEFA Champions League in 2012, the former Super Eagles captain added the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and Europa League titles to his laurels.

However, Mikel was beaten to the award by Ivory Coast and Manchester City legend, Yaya Toure.

According to the former Nigerian international, he received a call before the ceremony informing him he had won the award, but that was not how it all panned out.

“I got robbed of the African Footballer of The Year Award. Before I went, I was told I won it," he told Dubai Eye Radio.

“I was at the airport flying to Nigeria because the ceremony was in Nigeria, and Man City was playing, and Yaya Toure scored two goals."

An upset Mikel said there was no way he shouldn't have won the award, due to his numerous successes in Africa and Europe in the year preceding.

“I knew I had won it. It doesn’t matter how many goals he scored. I was in my prime, playing a lot of games. You could have seen the ceremony. Before it was even announced, everybody left the stage, people left.”

Mikel enjoyed a stellar career with Chelsea and Nigeria but spent the twilight of his career playing for Trabzonspor, Stoke City and Kuwait SC, per Transfermarkt.

"I got robbed of the African Footballer of The Year Award. Before I went, I was told I won it"

- John Mikel Obi pic.twitter.com/BcYwaCOjlA

— ???? @???????????????????????????????????????????????????? (@OneJoblessBoy) February 16, 2023