YAYA TOURE WINS BBC AFRICAN FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR AWARD 2015
Yaya Toure has been voted the BBC African Footballer of the Year 2015.
The 32-year-old Cote d’Ivoire midfielder becomes only the third player, after Nigerians Nwankwo Kanu and Jay-Jay Okocha, to receive the honour twice.
Football fans voted for Manchester City’s Toure, who first won in 2013, ahead of Yacine Brahimi, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Andre Ayew and Sadio Mane.
Toure described all five nominees as “champions”.
Previous winners
2014: Yacine Brahimi (Algeria)
2009: Didier Drogba(Ivory Coast)
2004: Jay-Jay Okocha(Nigeria)
2013: Yaya Toure(Ivory Coast)
2008: Mohamed Aboutrika (Egypt)
2003: Jay-Jay Okocha(Nigeria)
2012: Chris Katongo(Zambia)
2007: Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo)
2002: El Hadji Diouf(Senegal)
2011: Andre Ayew(Ghana)
2006: Michael Essien(Ghana)
2001: Sammy Kuffour(Ghana)
2010: Asamoah Gyan (Ghana)
2005: Mohamed Barakat (Egypt)
2000: Patrick Mboma(Cameroon)
Two of the beaten nominees have won the award before, Algeria’s Brahimi in 2014 and Ghanaian Ayew in 2011. Gabon’s Aubameyang was on the shortlist for the third year running, while Senegalese Mane made it for the first time.
Toure has been nominated for the award seven times and his second win ensures his year ends with a trophy, just as it began when he led Cote d’Ivoire to glory at the Africa Cup of Nations.
He captained the team in Equatorial Guinea and opened scoring in the semi-final to put his side on course for a 3-1 victory over Democratic Republic of Congo.
Toure was a key influence as his country ended a 23-year wait for their second Nations Cup title, overcoming Ghana in a penalty shootout in the final.
It was Toure’s first trophy with the national team in his sixth Nations Cup tournament, and having lost in two finals – in 2006 and 2012.
There was less success for Toure with Manchester City, who failed to defend their English Premier League 2014 title and finished second to Chelsea.
But Toure remains a powerful presence in the heart of the midfield and contributed seven goals for City in the calendar year.