Ivorian international footballer, Yaya Toure, went into the history book yesterday winning the African Footballer of the year award for the fourth successive time.
Toure joined Ex-Cameroon star, Samuel Eto’o as four time winners of the prestigious award. Eto’o won a hat trick from 2003 to 2005 and later in 2010.
The Ivorian eased pasted Gabonese forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama for the biggest individual honour in African football decided by votes from Head Coaches of Technical Directors of the National Associations affiliated to CAF. The Manchester City playmaker previously won the title in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Toure polled 175 votes against 120 by Aubameyang while Nigeria goalkeeper, Enyeama settled for a third place finish with 105.
An emotion-filled Toure said, ‘I thank Allah for all the achievements I have been blessed all these years. I also thank my fans’
It was not all gloom for Nigeria as Asisat Oshoala scooped both the African Women’s player of the year and the Youth player of the year awards. Asisat’s victory was never in doubt as she had an outstanding 2014 standing heads and shoulder above her contemporaries.
Full list of winners
African Player of the Year- Yaya Toure (Cote d’Ivoire and Manchester City)
African Player of the Year based in Africa- Elmin Mubele Ndombe (DR Congo and AS Vita)
Women’s Player of the Year- Asisat Oshola (Nigeria and River Angels)
Youth Player of the Year- Asisat Oshola (Nigeria and River Angels)
Most Promising Talent- Yacine Brahimi (Algeria and Porto)
Coach of the Year- Kheireddine Madoui (ES Setif)
National Team of the Year- Algeria.
Women’s National Team of the Year- Nigeria