Twenty-eight years ago, Victor Ikpeba was crowned the best player in Africa.
On Wednesday night in Rabat, Morocco, ‘The Prince of Monaco’ was back on African football’s biggest stage to present the award for the Best National Team for men to Morocco U20s, who made history by becoming only the second African team to win the U20 World Cup in Chile.
“It was three great days in Morocco as a special guest of CAF,” Ikpeba told SCORENigeria
“It was a chance to reunite with a lot of African stars, past and present.
“The highlight for me was being around one of the greatest African players of all-time Rabah Madjer of Algeria.
“We recounted the rivalry between Nigeria and Algeria, the good times and bad times as well as life in retirement.”
At a time Madjer was coach of his native Algeria, but these days he lives in Qatar.
Ikpeba also enjoyed Nigerian company in the persons of former Super Falcons captain Desire Oparanozie, women’s Young Player of the Year nominee Shakirat Moshood and NFF president Ibrahim Gusau.
Home boy Achraf Hakimi was finally crowned the new king of African football.
“It was a much-deserved, he did enough to win,” Ikpeba remarked.
He was also impressed with how the Moroccans put up a great show as hosts again of the CAF Awards.
“They are very organised and it is understandable why every sports event is being staged in Morocco,” Ikpeba reckoned.
