Former Cameroon striker, Samuel Eto’o, has firmly insisted that Nigerian legend Austin’ Jay-Jay ‘Okocha was as skilled as Brazilian great Ronaldinho Gaúcho.

Eto’o has expressed his displeasure that Okocha did not receive as much awards and explained it as “the oppression of world football”.

Okocha took pleasure in a successful profession spanning practically 20 years and won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994 with the Super Eagles.

He was also critical to Nigeria winning Africa’s first Olympic gold at Atlanta ’96.

In 2004, the former Bolton Wanderers midfielder made Pele’s list of 125 living legends of the sport, among only four African gamers– along with Abedi Pele, George Weah, and Roger Milla– to make the cut.

Okocha also mentored Ronaldinho when the Brazilian was finding his feet in European football at Paris Saint-Germain

But while Ronaldinho went on to win two FIFA World Player of the Year awards and a Ballon d’Or, Okocha never ever came close to claiming any of those global honours before calling time on his profession in 2008.

“It’s the oppression of world football,” Eto’o said, as per Onvoitout.

“What we saw Ronaldinho do a couple of years earlier, Jay-Jay (Okocha) had done 10 or 15 years prior to and he never ever had the recognition of others. And that’s what takes place when it comes to Africa.”