Ex-Nigeria Kingpin Hails Sammy Osei Kuffour

Ex-Nigeria skipper, Augustine 'Jay-Jay' Okocha has hailed former Ghana defender, Samuel Osei Kuffour describing him as the toughest defender face during his playing days.

Okocha is regarded by many as one the most naturally gifted African players to have played the beautiful game.

During his spell in the German Bundesliga, he came up against Kuffour on a number of occasions, who played for giants Bayern Munich between 1993 and 2005.

“I realized at a very young age that I had a gift to do special things with the ball. My biggest opponent was 'me'. I knew I was in charge when with the ball,” Okocha said.

"But on the toughest defenders I faced, I would say that my African brothers were the ones.

“We have the same mentality and thought the same way.

"Osei Kuffour was the toughest of them all.
"There was a game that he kept following and marking me and I asked him, 'O boy, take it easy, look at the way you are breathing down on my neck' and he replied that 'sorry I got work to do'.

“He brought out the best in me.”
Okocha, who has also clashed with Kuffuor at international stage, and played a key part as Nigeria won gold at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atalanta.

He is also fondly remembered for his days in the English Premier League with Bolton Wanderers and Hull City, his time in France with PSG and his spell with German outfit Eintracht Frankfurt.