Nigeria coach Christian Chukwu has accused the Confederation of African Football of `playing politics` with the continent`s Footballer of the Year title.
Chukwu strongly felt that Nigeria captain Jay-Jay Okocha should have clinched the title ahead of Cameroon`s Samuel Eto`o, who won the award for the second year running on Tuesday.
Okocha, voted MVP at the 2004 Cup of Nations, came in third, with Ivory Coast`s Didier Drogba in second place.
"I am sad, very sad that he did not win it," said Chukwu.
"Caf are playing politics with this award by giving it to a Cameroonian, Samuel Eto`o, for the second year running.
"This is very painful. When somebody merits something, he should not be denied that thing.
"Okocha merited this award over Eto`o or any player for that matter.
"But I am happy the player understands the politics of Caf and he will not allow it to weigh him down.
"If we are to
go by the performance for last season, there is no player whose performance matched that of Okocha.
"He was the most valuable player at the African Cup of Nations, and he was equally outstanding in his club.
"Caf were unfair to him and to Nigeria as a whole," Chukwu insisted.
Although Okocha failed to win, Nigeria clinched five titles during the African football gala in the South African city of Durban.
Inter Milan striker Obafemi Martins was named the young player of the year for the second year running, while Enyimba`s Okey Emordi and Vincent Enyeama were named coach of the year and Champions League player of the year.
Enyimba, winner of the 2004 Champions League, was picked as club of the year, while Perpetua Nkwocha emerged as Africa`s best female player.
Nkwocha excelled at the 2004 African Women`s Championship in South Africa, where she emerged as the tournament`s top scorer and helped her country to the title.
