Africa's Greatest Ever Player Retires

We've had this debate many times before: Who is Africa's Greatest Ever Player?

I haven't a clue, although I could list the usual suspects.

One of the men who would make most everyone's Top 10 list has just called it quits: Jay-Jay Okocha.

On Thursday, more than 20,000 fans came to pay their respects to one of the greatest African footballers of all time at his testimonial game.

Okocha, who twice won the BBC African Footballer of the Year award, is retiring after 18 years in football.

Despite torrential rainfall a big crowd witnessed a star-studded game that saw a Super Eagles XI beat a World XI 2-1.

Stars including Nigerian star Kanu, Joseph Yobo, El-Hadji Diouf and Benjani Mwaruwari all played in the game at the Warri Township stadium in Delta State, Nigeria.

The 34-year-old Okocha played for both sides during the match and scored for the Super Eagles XI, which also included Taribo West and John Utaka.

"It's a day of joy considering the achievements and adoration in my football career but also one of sadness as I am leaving a game that brought me fame and fortune," an emotional Okocha said after the match.

"I thank the clubs and fans where I have played as well as team-mates and of course the Nigerian public for their love and support throughout my career."

Current Nigeria coach, Shaibu Amodu, who coached Okocha at the 2002 Cup of Nations in Mali, was full of praise for the talented midfielder.

"Okocha is a model professional on the pitch, on the training field and off the pitch," Amodu said.

"The national team have missed him as he has such a huge influence in big games. The fact that the stadium is packed is a total reflection of how much he is loved in the country."

Former South Africa and Leeds United captain Lucas Radebe revealed that he had to leave his sick wife behind in South Africa to honor Okocha.

"I pleaded seriously with my wife to let me be here. Okocha was a recognised maestro in African football and the continent will surely miss him," he said.

After footing the bills for the testimonial, the Delta State government in south-western Nigeria have also renamed the Ogwashi-Ukwu stadium the Jay-Jay Okocha Stadium.

A fitting end for a classy player ... I doubt I'll get a testimonial at my current job when I'm handed a pink slip.

Africa's Best Ever Player to Call it Quits?

Who is Africa's greatest ever player? This has always been a hotly contested issue.

I've attempted to answer that question many times before with no success.

Today, one of the candidates for Best African Player Ever said he's seeing the end of the road.

Hull City's Nigerian midfielder Jay-Jay Okocha says he is likely to retire from football at the end of the season.



The former Bolton star, 35, has started 10 games since joining the Tigers in September 2007 but wants to quit while he is still at the top of his game.

Okocha told BBC Radio Humberside: "I am just thinking until the end of this season. Who knows what will happen but now I think that will be me done. After Hull that is it, I feel that this is my last bus stop."

What? No MLS?

Okocha has ruled out staying in football immediately after retiring, and will instead concentrate on business commitments.

"I don't think I will go into coaching for now. I would like to try some other things, there are a lot of things to do and I will try to start a new life, a new challenge and I'm looking forward to it."

The midfielder said he would not turn his back on his homeland Nigeria if they were to ask for his help. Jay-Jay won 59 caps and scored eight goals for Nigeria in his international career.

He added: "If they need my help it wouldn't be nice of me to turn that down. I would be ready to come and help. I think now we need local indigenous people that have played the game and know what it takes to be a winner and people who have the same mentality as the players to take the players on and bring the best out of them."

And how ...

So to Jay-Jay, we say thanks. Your exploits will be long remembered ...

Africans Excel in Europe, Led by Adebayor

African players showed talent and agility this weekend on the world stage, scoring epic goals and stunning volleys around the European leagues.

The most memorable goal of the weekend goes to Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor. His strike capped a 3-1 victory for Arsenal in their north London derby clash at Tottenham Hotspur, his unstoppable volley whizzing past England goalkeeper Paul Robinson. He had earlier scored with a header to make it 1-1. To see the goal, click
here!

In other English top flight matches, Portsmouth's all-Nigerian strike-force of Nwankwo Kanu and John Utaka caused Liverpool's defense problems throughout their match at Fratton Park but Kanu missed a first half penalty.

In the English league's second division, former Nigerian captain Jay-Jay Okocha made an impressive debut for Hull City in their 1-1 draw at home to Stoke. The 34-year-old former Bolton player has returned to England after a season playing in the Middle East with Qatar SC.

In Spain, Mali forward Frederic Kanoute scored two goals on Sunday as Sevilla notched a 4-1 win over Recreativo Huelva.

Cameroonian midfielder Daniel Ngom Kome scored for Valladolid in their 2-1 loss at Valencia, his first goal for over a season cancelled out by Fernando Morientes' equalizer and David Silva's late deflected winner. (For more on this and Valencia, check out my Valencia blog!

Nigerian Kalu Uche of Almeria scored once and had a goal wrongly disallowed as his newly promoted side lost 3-1 at Real Madrid.

In the French Ligue 1, Ivorian star striker Aruna Dindane scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot as his Racing Lens team beat AS Nancy 1-0 at home.

In Lille, Moroccan striker Marouane Chamakh was sent off in his Bordeaux team drew 1-1 on the road.

In the German Bundesliga, Tunisian defender Karim Huggui scored the opening goal for Bayer Leverkusen as they won 2-0 at home against VfL Bochum.

Best African Player Ever Back in England?

The debate has raged for years. Who is the best African player of all time?
Many consider Nigeria's Jay-Jay Okocha to be on top of or near the top of this list.

Yesterday, Okocha returned to England, signing a pact with Hull City of England's Championship. The Football League Championship (often referred to as The Championship for short) is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League.

Okocha, who had been playing in Qatar, said his faith brought him back to England.

"I always ask God if it is his will, and if so, then let it be. That's the message I got and that's why I'm here at Hull," he said.

"My faith comes before anything. It has also taught me to respect people for what they are and who they are."

Okocha spent four years playing for Bolton until his release in July 2006, and has been playing in the Middle East with Qatar SC.

Okocha joined Bolton from Paris St Germain in July 2002 and made 106 Premier League starts for the Trotters, scoring 14 top-flight goals, in his four years at The Reebok.

Since being released by Bolton, Okocha was also linked with a move to Australian side Sydney United.

He announced his retirement from international football after the African Cup of Nations in February 2006, but was recalled to the Nigeria squad later that year after they suffered injury problems.

Okocha, who appeared in three World Cups, won over 70 caps with Nigeria.