Monday, 2 December 2013

Yaya Toure named 2013 BBC African Footballer of the Year



According to BBC, Yaya Toure is the best player in Africa!! The Ivory Coast and Manchester City midfielder, who had been nominated in each of the past four years, beat Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Victor Moses, John Mikel Obi and Jonathan Pitroipa to this year's BBC African player of the year crown.

The 30-year-old told BBC Sport: "I think I've been nominated for five years in a row and finally winning the award is amazing.

"It's a fantastic achievement because I don't think there has ever been as many quality African players in top level international football as there are now: Aubameyang, Pitroipa, Mikel, Moses, Salomon Kalou, Gervinho... we have fantastic players.

"I also think African football is improving and that means a lot to us. And as an African, I'm very happy."

The shortlist for the award was drawn up by 44 football experts across Africa, who based their choices on players' skill, technical ability, teamwork, consistency and fair play.

A record number of fans then voted for their favourite either online or by text message.

And those fans have considered Toure to be the standout African player over the past year, in recognition of the Ivorian's displays of power, pace, creativity and goals.

Toure said: "Thank you to all the fans around the world who continue to support me. It shows how much fans love you and appreciate your job as well.

"It's something special because it's not the vote of the manager or the club or the captain of the national team, it's just the fans.

"When you have a lot of fans behind you, it's always amazing. And I'm very happy as it is the fans who have given it to me - so I'm very appreciative."

The BBC African Footballer of the Year award has been running since 1991 and only three Nigerians (Emmanuel Amunike, Kanu Nwankwo and Jay Jay Okocha) have ever won the prestigious prize, infact no Nigerian has won the award in a decade... Hopefully we will be presenting the Sportunes African footballer of the year soon, to give room for greatness.

1 comment:

  1. lool.. Itunu ur being sarcastic rite? everybody knows ur not patriotic atalll and u are very bias to a fault.. so even if there is any crap like sportunes player of the year, i know you will rather give it to emmanuel frimpong even if he hasnt kicked a ball all season

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