Kanu or Okocha: Who was Nigeria’s Greatest?

Nigeria has always been known as a fine footballing nation, producing entertaining football and prominent players like Henry Nwosu, Segun Odegbami and Best Ogedengbe.

But the coming of Nwankwo Kanu and Austin Okocha brought a new dawn that over-shadowed all the achievements of all the greats before them, even from Christian Chukwu all the way down to Rashidi Yekini.

Even more importantly, Kanu and Okocha took their trade beyond the shores of this land, winning accolades and honours across Europe, showcasing extraordinary talent and skills that forever warmed them into the hearts of everyone who saw them play, whether white or black.

Today, years after retirement, these two legends of the game are still the country’s greatest footballing exports.

Yet the question begs to be asked: just which of these Hall of Famers is the greatest Nigerian footballer ever?

The answer to that seemingly harmless question has sparked off heated arguments, split fans in half and half and divided several homes. Still we can’t shy away from it.

Brazil has been blessed with so many stars but none has neared Pele as the greatest. Argentina have a football god in Maradona while France have come to accept Zinedine Zidane as her finest footballer yet. And in Roger Milan, Cameroun has a legend that will probably never be equalled or surpassed.

While Nigeria will eternally remain proud of the heroics of both Kanu and Okocha, history beckons on the greatest black nation on the planet to thrust forward her own Numero Uno.

It is never easy to compare two players playing in different positions but thankfully both Kanu and Okocha played in the same era and were a critical component of the Super Eagles that eventually stamped Nigeria’s name on the footballing map of great nations.

But just who is the greater of these icons? Kanu?! Okocha?!

The super duo was blessed with sublime skills that no coach can claim to have impacted in any player. While Okocha was the wizard of the step-overs and the mazy dribbles, Kanu was the master of the silky first touch and the final pass.

Like most Nigerian boys, both started playing football at an early age. Little Kanu was already winning international laurels for Nigeria as a teenager at about the same time when a barely 18 years old Okocha was already making fools of defenders in the German lower leagues.

But while there was not just enough room for Kanu in the 1994 Nations Cup winning team and the side that represented Nigeria at the 1994 World Cup, Okocha was a vital member of both historic sides.

Kanu would never be deterred though – a never-give-up spirit that would later define his career, by helping him recover from a serious heart defect – as he went a step higher by captaining and emerging the hero of the Dream team that won Nigeria’s first Olympics Gold Medal in soccer at the 

Atlanta Olympic games in 1996.  A team that also had Okocha as an important member.

At the national level, Okocha just about beats Kanu to it. The midfield maestro aside winning the 1994 AFCON trophy led Nigeria to three third-place finishes and one runners-up spot at Africa’s biggest soccer tournament.

In five Nations Cup outings, the Enugu-born playmaker blasted in seven goals, the most celebrated of which was the AFCON’s 1000^th goal and that unforgettable left-footed missile from 25 yards that flew into the top corner and secured an equaliser at 2-2. Ironically, a penalty miss from Kanu ensured Nigeria lost out in that final to perennial waterloo, Cameroun.

Kanu however had a more illustrious club career. While Okocha was out of the limelight in Turkey, Kanu was making waves at first Ajax, then Arsenal via Inter Milan. At the time he finally called it quits, Papillo had won every club honour available in Europe including the prestigious UEFA Champions League.

Okocha did enjoy some memorable moments at Bolton Wanderers in the closing stages of his career yet he went trophy-less in England as against Kanu who still wrote fine FA Cup tales with both West Brom and Portsmouth.

So again, who was the best?

You can’t take anything away from Kanu. He was the most decorated African before Eto’o went berserk and on the basis of titles won, he’s clearly in a one-sided battle with Okocha.

But the fact that Okocha, despite his sparsely filled cupboard, can still be measured in the same breathe as Nwankwo says a lot about him.

Jay Jay mentored Ronaldinho, had more bags of tricks than Zidane and was in the Team of the Tournament at the 1998 World Cup in France.

Arsenal fans may love Kanu Nwankwo more but every Nigerian who saw Austin JJ Okocha play knew he had no equal. None before or after him. Maybe, none ever. For Okocha was the best ever.