Former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has claimed he was robbed of the 2013 African Player of the Year award, according to a Saturday report. Obi was instrumental for Nigeria that year, helping the Eagles win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. No Nigerian has won the African Player of the Year award since 1999, when Nwankwo Kanu beat Ghanaian defender Samuel Kuffour after his goal‑scoring exploits for Arsenal. In the past two decades only Austin Okocha (twice, in 2003 and 2004) and Mikel Obi (in 2013) reached the final three, ultimately losing to Samuel Eto’o and Yaya Toure respectively.
In a YouTube interview with Dubai Eye 103.8, Obi said, “I was robbed, mate. Before I left, I was told I had won it. I was at the airport flying to Nigeria, because the ceremony was in Nigeria, and guess what happened? Manchester City was playing, and Yaya scored a hat‑trick or two goals.” He also revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson continued to snub him after he opted out of a move to Manchester United in 2005. Ferguson believed he had secured the talented midfielder when United signed him from Lyn Oslo in April 2005, but the transfer never materialised after Obi said he was “bullied” into the deal and chose Chelsea instead.
“Fergie blanked me for years,” Obi continued. “The first time we met in the FA Cup he shunned me, walking out of the tunnel. I stumbled and almost fell. Every time we met he ignored me, but I have no regrets signing for Chelsea.” He explained that he had signed a pre‑contract with Manchester United while still playing for Lyn Oslo, and that Chelsea had been supporting him and his family, even paying his school fees in Norway. “I had my trials at Manchester United before I went to Chelsea. Sir Alex loved me and all the players loved me. Roy Keane was my biggest fan; he told Ferguson he needed to sign me and protected me in training. Whenever I got tackles from the likes of Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, Keane would step in. When they heard I joined Chelsea, Fergie flew to Norway, handed me a pre‑contract, and I couldn’t say no. The whole thing went viral.”
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