Mikel may not win African Best Player Award – Iroha

Former Super Eagles defender, Benedict Iroha, is entertaining fears
that the politics of selection may cost Chelsea and Super Eagles
midfielder, Mikel Obi, the golden opportunity of winning this year’s
Africa Footballer of the Year Award.
Iroha, who also tipped the award holder, Yahaya Toure of Cote d’Ivoire
and Manchester City midfield player, to eventually to win this year’s
Africa Footballer of the year a record third time ahead of Nigeria’s
Mikel Obi and others, said the organisers of the event, the
Confederation of Africa Football, may deny Mikel like they denied
Austin Okocha in 2000 and 2004.
He said: “There are some basic factors that the selectors of these
awards are always looking out for, which includes goals scoring that
is very vital in their calculations of points.
“That is why it is always very difficult for defenders and midfield
players to win. But Yahaya is a midfielder that scores a lot of goals
for his club, Manchester City, and national team, the Elephants of
Cote d’Ivoire. Yahaya won it based on this fact the last time and I
believe he will win it again this time around for a record third
time.”
He, however, ex-rayed the achievements of Mikel this year and was of
the opinion that the Eagles playmaker deserves to win this year’s
edition of the award meant for the best African player for the past 12
months.
He said: “Mikel Obi, Emmanuel Emenike and Victor Moses have been very
impressive for club and country. But Mikel stood out from the pack
having put up scintillating performances in the 2013 Africa Nations
Cup in South Africa and followed it up with good showings in the Super
Eagles’ 2014 World Cup qualifiers. He also helped his Club Chelsea to
win the Europa Cup last time. So he deserves to win the Africa Best
Award for this year but lack of goals from him and other parameters
that CAF may introduce in the selection process may robbed Mikel of
the award while Yahaya Toure would cash in on that to win for a record
third time.”