He held off competition from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon and Borussia Dortmund), Victor Moses (Nigeria and Liverpool, on loan from Chelsea), John Obi Mikel (Nigeria and Chelsea), and Jonathan Pitroipa (Burkina Faso and Rennes).
The BBC’s Peter Okwoche presented Toure with the trophy today, Monday 2 December, at Manchester City’s training ground, Carrington. The announcement was made from Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium in a simulcast broadcast on the Focus on Africa programme on BBC World News Television and on BBC World Service radio at 1735 GMT. The announcement was also streamed on the BBC News and Sport websites.
Yaya Toure says: "Thank you to all the fans around the world who continue to support me and who love me a lot. I'm very proud, I'm very happy, this award is amazing. It's the fifth time in a row [being nominated] and this time is very special."
BBC Africa’s Current Affairs Editor Vera Kwakofi says: "We are pleased for Yaya Toure that he has finally won the BBC African Footballer of the Year on his fifth nomination for the award. This shows the high esteem in which he is held by lovers of African football and the respect the fans have for his exploits for club and country."
Previous winners of the BBC African Footballer of the Year award include Christopher Katongo, Andre ‘Dede’ Ayew, Asamoah Gyan, Didier Drogba, Mohamed Aboutrika, Emmanuel Adebayor, Michael Essien, Jay-Jay Okocha, Samuel Kuffour, Nwankwo Kanu and George Weah.
Further details about the award can be found online at: bbc.com/africanfootball.
Post published in: Football