Austin Jay Jay Okocha Names Biggest Trophy He Regrets Not Winning as a Professional Player

Austin Jay Jay Okocha Names Biggest Trophy He Regrets Not Winning as a Professional Player

Chukwu Ikechukwu
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:00 PM
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A. A. Okocha
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  • Austin Jay-Jay Okocha has disclosed that he never got a chance to get close to the UEFA Champions League trophy during his playing days
  • The former Super Eagles captain had represented top European teams in his professional career, such as Paris Saint-Germain and Fenerbache but failed to win the trophy
  • The UEFA Champions League trophy is on a tour of Africa with the trophy displayed to fans in Lagos and Abuja by former Dutch legend Clarence Seedorf

Nigeria legend, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha has disclosed his unfulfilled dream of winning Europe’s most prestigious club competition during his professional career.

The former Super Eagles captain made a total of 9 Champions League appearances in his career while playing for Paris Saint-Germain and Fernabache but made no tangible impact in the competition.

Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, Nigeria, Super Eagles, UEFA Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain
Austin Jay-Jay Okocha only made 9 appearances in the UEFA Champions League. Photo by Eurasia Sport Images
Source: Getty Images

According to a report via the Vanguard, Okocha has now revealed as a footballer, he never had the opportunity to win the Champions League.

“As a player, I never got close to the Champions League trophy like I am today.”

Okocha made this revelation during the tour of the UEFA Champions League tour to Nigeria, where the trophy was displayed to fans in Lagos and Abuja.

The trophy was brought to Nigeria by former Dutch and Real Madrid legend, Clarence Seedorf who is the first man to win the trophy with three different clubs.

Nigerian UEFA Champions League winners

Meanwhile, with the rich history of the UEFA Champions League and its popularity in Nigeria, only three Nigerians have ever won the club competition.

According to UEFA, Nwankwo Kanu, Finidi George, and John Obi Mikel are just the three Nigerians to have lifted Europe’s most prestigious club competition.

Both Kanu and Finidi won the trophy with the historic Ajax team in 1995, while John Obi Mikel was triumphant with the Chelsea team in 2012.

Shearer names 2 Super Eagles legends among 10 EPL greatest Africans

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Alan Shearer has named the 10 greatest African players to have played in the Premier League as he snubbed former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel who excelled at Chelsea.

On the list of the 10 greatest African players in the Premier League, Alan Shearer named the duo of Jay Jay Okocha and Kanu Nwankwo.

Also, former Chelsea defender Celestine Babayaro and Victor Moses were also snubbed by Alan Shearer who is of the opinion that only Okocha and Kanu should be the Nigerians on the list.

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Chukwu Ikechukwu
Chukwu Ikechukwu Godwin is a journalist with over 9 years of experience in the Nigerian media industry. He has worked both in Radio (Today FM, Rhythm FM, Wish FM) and Television (Silverbird TV) as a Sports Analyst..
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