- The award revisits one of the most celebrated matches in Nigerian football history. On June 13, 1998
- Nigeria twice came from behind before securing the famous win, with goals from Mutiu Adepoju and Sunday Oliseh
- His reputation was further cemented at the 1994 World Cup, where he completed 15 successful dribbles against Italy in a knockout-stage encounter
Former Super Eagles skipper Augustine Okocha has been recognised with a special retroactive FIFA award for his outstanding display in Nigeria’s famous victory over Spain at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the football icon revealed the honour in a video posted on his social media page, where he opened a presentation box containing the commemorative silver trophy.
Speaking in the video, Okocha expressed appreciation to FIFA and the organisations involved in presenting the award, saying he was delighted to be recognised for his performance in the memorable encounter between Nigeria and Spain.
The award revisits one of the most celebrated matches in Nigerian football history. On June 13, 1998, the Super Eagles stunned Spain with a dramatic 3-2 victory in their opening group-stage game at the World Cup in France.
Nigeria twice came from behind before securing the famous win, with goals from Mutiu Adepoju and Sunday Oliseh helping the African side defeat one of Europe’s strongest teams at the time.
Under the guidance of Serbian coach Bora Milutinović, Nigeria went on to beat Bulgaria and progress to the knockout stage of the tournament.
The team’s World Cup journey, however, ended in the Round of 16 after a heavy defeat to Denmark.
The latest recognition highlights Okocha’s enduring legacy in world football and comes as the 2026 FIFA World Cup takes centre stage across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Widely regarded as one of Africa’s most gifted footballers, Okocha remains celebrated for his creativity, flair, and dribbling ability.
His reputation was further cemented at the 1994 World Cup, where he completed 15 successful dribbles against Italy in a knockout-stage encounter, a record that still stands as the highest number of successful dribbles by a player in a single FIFA World Cup match.
Jay-Jay Okocha, Augustine Okocha, FIFA award, Super Eagles, Nigeria vs Spain 1998, FIFA World Cup, Nigerian football, World Cup history, Sunday Oliseh, Mutiu Adepoju
