Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Super Eagles legend Augustine “Jay‑Jay” Okocha has finally received a special retroactive “Superior Player of the Match” award for his dazzling display in Nigeria’s famous 3‑2 victory over Spain at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. The recognition comes 28 years after the match and forms part of a project by Michelob ULTRA and football content platform Copa90 to honour exceptional individual performances from World Cup games played before the official Player of the Match award was introduced in 2002.
Okocha, 52, unveiled the silver trophy in a video shared on his Instagram page on Thursday, June 11, 2026. “Hello, this is JJ Okocha. I’m about to unveil this special award being given to me by FIFA,” he said in the clip. “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 recognition. I’m so honoured to receive it.”
The celebrated performance took place on June 13, 1998, at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, France. Nigeria, making only its second appearance at the World Cup, came from behind to stun a Spanish side that featured stars such as Fernando Hierro and Raúl González. Although Okocha did not score, his breathtaking dribbling, incisive passing and overall creativity repeatedly unsettled the Spanish defence and dictated the tempo of the game.
Spain took the lead early through a penalty converted by Fernando Hierro. However, Nigeria responded swiftly with relentless attacking pressure. Mutiu Adepoju restored parity with a well‑taken finish, and Garba Lawal completed a rapid turnaround to give the Super Eagles a surprise lead. Spain pulled level again in the second half through a goal from Raúl, but the contest swung back in Nigeria’s favour when pressure forced an own goal by Spanish goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta. Sunday Oliseh then sealed the dramatic victory with a stunning long‑range strike late in the match.
The result propelled Nigeria to the top of Group D and remains one of the most iconic moments in Nigerian football history. Okocha was at the heart of that triumph, and his influence kept Nigeria dominant in key phases of the game, allowing the Super Eagles to maintain pressure against a European giant.
The recognition forms part of a broader project that reviewed 580 pre‑2002 World Cup matches. After combing through historical archives, organisers identified players whose performances deserved formal recognition. Okocha was named the Superior Player of the Match for the Nigeria‑Spain encounter, a decision that has sparked nostalgic reactions from football fans on social media.
Okocha’s performance that day further cemented his status as one of Africa’s most gifted footballers and a global entertainer. Though he featured in only three of Nigeria’s four fixtures at the tournament, his reward was being named among the six reserves of the FIFA All‑Star Team of the Tournament. The latest honour arrives as the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway in North America, serving as a powerful reminder of one of the Super Eagles’ most celebrated World Cup performances – despite Nigeria’s absence from this year’s tournament.
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