Former Super Eagles captain Jay-Jay Okocha has been honoured with a special retroactive “Superior Player of the Match” award for his outstanding performance in Nigeria’s memorable 3-2 victory over Spain at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
Gatekeepers News reports that the recognition comes nearly three decades after the historic encounter in Nantes, France, where the Super Eagles stunned the Spanish side in one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
Played on June 13, 1998, the Group D clash saw Nigeria twice come from behind to defeat Spain and announce themselves as one of the competition’s surprise packages.
In a video shared on his Instagram page on Thursday, the 52-year-old football icon unveiled the silver trophy from a custom presentation case and expressed gratitude for the recognition.
“Hello, this is JJ Okocha. I’m about to unveil this special award being given to me by FIFA,” he said.
“And it was given to me for winning the Superior Man of the Match in a World Cup game, Nigeria versus Spain, 1998.”
“Special thank you to Michelob ULTRA and Copa90 for this amazing award. I feel so honoured to receive it, thank you,” he added.
Nigeria secured the famous victory through goals from Mutiu Adepoju and a stunning long-range strike by Sunday Oliseh at the Stade de la Beaujoire.
Under the guidance of coach Bora Milutinović, the Super Eagles also defeated Bulgaria in the group stage to qualify for the knockout rounds.
However, their World Cup campaign ended in the Round of 16, where Denmark handed them a heavy 4-1 defeat.
The award highlights Okocha’s enduring legacy in world football and reinforces his status as one of Africa’s most gifted and influential players.
Widely regarded for his exceptional dribbling skills and creativity, Okocha also holds a notable FIFA World Cup record. During Nigeria’s Round of 16 clash against Italy at the 1994 World Cup, he completed 15 successful dribbles — the highest number recorded by any player in a single World Cup match.
The latest recognition comes as the football world turns its attention to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, celebrating iconic performances from past tournaments and the players who helped shape them.
