Yaya Toure has been named BBC African Footballer of the Year for 2015.
It’s the second time the City midfielder has won the award after he beat off competition from Algeria’s Yacine Brahimi, the 2014 winner, as well as Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ghanaian Andre Ayew and Senegal’s Sadio Mane in an African fan vote.
That means Yaya is now the reigning BBC African Footballer of the Year and the current CAF African Footballer of the Year.
He becomes only the third player to win the award twice, following in the footsteps of Jay Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu.
On receiving the award, Toure told BBC Africa: “I’m very proud. It was a huge challenge for me as well, because I have been involved in this award a few times now, and always to receive this dedication from the fans is unbelievable.
“African football is growing up, becoming much better and we have fantastic young players coming through now.
“For me, it was a massive challenge so I’m very, very delighted. Because at the end of the day, we are all champions.
“For me, to be the winner today, I am delighted and very happy. And as an African player, I want to lead all my younger brothers to be successful in the future.”
As well as captaining his nation to their first African Cup of Nations title for 23 years back in February, the 32-year old has remained an integral member of this City team as he has been since he joined the club in 2010.
Toure has featured on 15 occasions for his club this season, scoring three goals and making five assists, maintaining a passing accuracy of 87.4%.
The shortlist for the award was selected by a poll of journalists from 46 African countries and the award-winner was determined by the number of votes from African football fans.
Yaya is also once again shortlisted for the CAF African Footballer of the Year award and so is in line to win the prize for a record fifth-consecutive time.
The awards gala will be held on Thursday 7 January in Abuja, Nigeria.
Caf shortlist:
Andre Ayew (Ghana & Swansea)
Aymen Abdennour (Tunisia & Valencia)
Mudather Eltaib Ibrahim ‘Karika’ (Sudan & El Hilal)
Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Roma)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Borussia Dortmund)
Sadio Mane (Senegal & Southampton)
Serge Aurier (Cote d’Ivoire & Paris Saint Germain)
Sofiane Feghouli (Algeria & Valencia)
Yacine Brahimi ( Algeria & Porto)
Yaya Toure (Cote d’Ivoire & Manchester City)
Congratulations to Yaya on this fantastic achievement!
