Youngster criticised heavily by Super Eagles legend Mikel Obi emerges Africa's most-valuable player

Nicolas Jackson, the Senegalese international and Chelsea striker, has made a remarkable transformation from being criticised by former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi to being recognised as Africa's most valuable football star. 

Per the recent issue from the statistics outfit, CIES Football Observatory, Jackson is one of three Africans who made the top 100 best-valued players in the World.

Jackson's journey this season has been closely followed, not only for his impressive goal tally—nine goals across all competitions—but also due to the scrutiny surrounding his performance. 

Earlier in the season, Mikel Obi publicly criticised Jackson for his finishing ability, suggesting that Chelsea needed a more clinical striker. 

Despite this criticism, Jackson has proven his worth on the pitch, contributing significantly to Chelsea's attacking play.

According to the CIES, the 23-year-old is now ranked as the 22nd best-valued player in the world, with a market value of €105.4 million. 

This places him ahead of notable players such as Ghana’s Mohammed Kudus and Nigeria’s Victor Boniface.

The recent CIES report highlights Jackson’s ascent in the football world, ranking him among the top 30 players. He is now ranked among elite players like Jude Bellingham, who tops the list with a staggering value of €251 million, followed by Erling Haaland and Vinícius Júnior. 

The report noted that Jackson's value has surged significantly since joining Chelsea from Villarreal for £32 million, reflecting his potential and performance improvements.

The relationship between Jackson and Mikel Obi has been tumultuous. Following Obi's critiques, Jackson responded defiantly after scoring in a match against Wolverhampton Wanderers before expressing frustration towards Obi's comments on social media, urging him to offer support instead of criticism. 

Despite their exchanges, Jackson has continued to demonstrate growth and resilience on the field until a recent slump which has seen Obi resume his criticism of the Senegalese youngster.

Nevertheless, his evolution from a player under scrutiny to Africa’s most valuable footballer is a reminder of how hard the forward has worked this season under the guidance of new manager Enzo Maresca.