Manchester City midfield dynamo Yaya Toure’s stock continues to rise after he was named African Footballer of the Year for the third successive year at a ceremony in Nigeria last night.
The Ivory Coast international beat out competition from countrymen Didier Drogba and Chelsea’s Nigerian midfielder, John Obi Mikel, to capture the title.
The 30-year-old emulated the success of Ghanaian Abedi Pele (1991-93) and Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o (2003-2005) with his three consecutive awards.
“To be the winner today is unbelievable,” he said.
“I am very proud and very happy to receive this award, but would also like to congratulate my brothers, John Obi Mikel and Didier Drogba.”
Toure’s performances have been incredible in Manuel Pellegrini’s debut season, scoring 13 times already this year which is the highest tally of his career.
Although the midfielder was unable to win a major trophy last season, he still showed the class that has made him one of the most formidable players in world football.
Having already been named as the BBC’s African Footballer of the Year, he is also the only African player included in the 23-man shortlist for Fifa’s World Player of the Year which will be decided next Monday.
Image courtesy of Puma via YouTube, with thanks.
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