Hey Benni wasn't pivotal for SA in '96. Bukina '98 was his year and as per the poster you're responding to, he probably just started watching soccer.

chucky234: McCarthy was the reason why South Africa won the Nations cup in 1996 and was joint top scorer at Burkina Faso '98,he was also instrumental in Porto winning the Champions's league and scored in the final against Monaco as well as the semi final against Man U at Old Traford.

chiefololade:
Check ur facts well before posting it here, he was not on d shortlist in 2004. It was Ronaldinho, Henry and Shevchenko.. He got his name on d shortlist in 2005. Stop misleading people!

A mix-up definitely. Which you could have corrected without insulting. Trusted my head, didn't bother to consult internet.

Yes, the award is now a joke!!! No one thinks highly of it anymore. Seriously, I'll win this shit if I can bribe Mustapha and Hayatou.

femmy2010:

Has the Award become a joke?
TARA wetin?

kinda French-dominated stuff

okocha's chance of winning d AFOY was diminish bcoz hedid nt play d UEFA champs leg and he neva won a major sliverware in europe. FINIDI shld ve won it coz he was once acclaimed as d best winger in d world.

akorlade: Mustapha hadji should have won it atleast once.

Hadji won d '98 edition

ifihearam:

Okacha is a disgrace,upon all the skill and over hyped dribbling he has nothing to show for,all he is interest was just money.

I hate insults,bt I wu insult u dis evening for dis stupid coment..ur an idiot!!how is Okocha a disgrace?he shud av bribe FIFA to include his name on d fifa player award?or bribe CAF to giv him d award?he played a classic n entertaining football upon wch a lot of stars now learn his dribling skills..he inovated leg ova wch Ronaldihno lata took ova n now C.Ronald..what's ur beef wit him now?dat he didn't play for Man U,Chelsea,Madrid or Barcelona?he was an inspirational n movitational player n remain a role model to many players despite not winin any title...

Jarus: I think 2013 is a huge opportunity for another Nigerian to win APotY award since 1999. No top African performer now. Eto'o and Drogba are out. Yaya is the major obstacle. If Mikel and Moses play well at Confederations cup, a Nigerian may clinch it.

Voting pattern is d deciding factor now.

It will be very difficult for someone from an English speaking country to win now.

There's this solidarity amongst the French speaking countries lately for such awards. Just like the BBC handing a French speaking African it own award.

This was Austen Okocha's undoing. Just check, since the new voting pattern started its been the French Africans all the way. Starting with Mustapha Hadji.

Besides the general beef for Nigerians.

@OP: Did not see any of these gentlemen in your list:
Tony Yeboah (Ghana), Ordiatey Lamtey (Ghana), Lualua (Congo), M. Fufana, Stephen Keshi (the guy that opened our eyes to international professional soccer, the best libero of his time in Europe, Nigeria's longest serving captain and most influencial player ever, first full blooded African to captain a grade "A" European club: Anderlet FC, Belgium).

List is limitless though!

DMainMan:

Okocha caused it. He is very stingy and likes money so much. Big clubs wanted him but ignored dem at his prime.

Dat is y it is always gud to b gud. Help d needy, show luv and care to d poor. B a philantropist. It is d repercussion dat he is facing now. I dont pity him at all.

Why don,t you ask jj make he tell you is own part of d story.dat apart u fit play football,I no even blive you dey gud in wat you re doing.

femi4: We dey talk about African player, u dey mention Cannavaro

no mind am,na so one idiot mention cr7 n messi

Fadiga never rose above Auxerre level and would never be in contention for the list. Unfortunately for him, by the time he made his big move, his heart problems surfaced.

Ahmed Hassan, Aboutrika, Tony Yeboah and Finidi George can consider themselves unlucky not to win.

femi4: AFCON winner 94
Olympic gold medalist 96
African footballer of d year 98 (BBC)
What else do u want?

not only in 98 also in 03 and 04

Lero15: so u mean man u & chelsea wd pay less to dat of bolton?

When he left PSG, he had many offers but chose Bolton cos they offered the biggest bonus. The archive is your friend here mate.

femi4: AFCON winner 94
Olympic gold medalist 96
African footballer of d year 98 (BBC)
What else do u want?

I wonder oo.

Cmoyor: Wat of Sunday Mba

No, na Monday Mba.

Freiburger: Benni McCarthy & j j Okorcha deserved something.

Both if them were victims of politics cos the time they suppose to win it it was repeatedly given to Etoo courtesy of isa hayatou.

ifihearam:

Okacha is a disgrace,upon all the skill and over hyped dribbling he has nothing to show for,all he is interest was just money.

please sir if you don't have anything nice to say just STFU!!!*ur english badt gan*

rabbah madjer of algeria should be on that list

the_ripper: Kinda unfair to Aboutreika. The dude balled, but most times this African footballer award favours those who play in European leagues. Dont think I know an African dat won it playing for an African club.

Emmanuel Amuneke won it in 1994 as a Zamalek player,I think he is d only player

Lero15: so u mean man u & chelsea wd pay less to dat of bolton?

j.j never won a single game against united at bolton check your records

BrutusOj: I hate insults,bt I wu insult u dis evening for dis stupid coment..ur an idiot!!how is Okocha a disgrace?he shud av bribe FIFA to include his name on d fifa player award?or bribe CAF to giv him d award?he played a classic n entertaining football upon wch a lot of stars now learn his dribling skills..he inovated leg ova wch Ronaldihno lata took ova n now C.Ronald..what's ur beef wit him now?dat he didn't play for Man U,Chelsea,Madrid or Barcelona?he was an inspirational n movitational player n remain a role model to many players despite not winin any title...

Jxt shatttaaaapp....!!!!!
Okocha Invented wetin? Ronaldinho is far better a player dan Okocha.

Ninilowo:
Both if them were victims of politics cos the time they suppose to win it it was repeatedly given to Etoo courtesy of isa hayatou.

Nigerians sha. Maybe Isa Hayatou also influenced Eto'o winning 3rd best player in the world then, Barcelona's player of the year (ahead of Ronaldinho), and helped him score 30 La Liga goals. Truth be told, Eto'o outshone JJ in those year. Not an Hayatou matter.

Titi camara, henry camara, nomvete, solomon olembe, dos santos, aghawonder, uche okechukwu to mention but a few

Shabani nonda