LEGENDARY African footballer Roger Milla, whose four goals helped propel Cameroon to the 1990 World Cup quarter-fianls, has been voted Africa’s Footballer of the Century, by African Soccer magazine.
The London-based monthly made it’s choice from a pool of the continent’s top football coaches, players and experts.
And it was the name of 47-year-old Milla which stood out, not only what for the 1990 World Cup, but the whole spread of his career, from his two African club titles with Leopards and Tonnerre Yaounde, through victory in the 1984 and 1988 African Nations Cups and three World Cup campaigns.
“We had expected some divergence of views,” said African Soccer editor Emmanuel Maradas. “But without exception, everyone spontaneously named Milla and he would certainly be my choice as well.”
Milla said he was profoundly moved by the award. “At every stage of my career, wherever I’ve been, even when I’ve played against their own countries, I’ve had the most fantastic support and encouragement…I’ve known great kindness during my career as a footballer.”