YAYA TOURE NAMED BBC AFRICAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR

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 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.
I'm very happy as it is the fans who have given it to me - so I'm very
appreciative

"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."


Past winners
*.2012 - Christopher Katongo (Zambia and Henan Construction)
*.2011 - Andre 'Dede' Ayew (Marseille & Ghana)
*.2010 - Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland & Ghana)
*.2009 - Didier Drogba (Chelsea & Ivory Coast)
*.2008 - Mohamed Aboutrika (Al Ahly & Egypt)
*.2007 - Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal & Togo)
*.2006 - Michael Essien (Chelsea & Ghana)
*.2005 - Mohamed Barakat (Al Ahly & Egypt)
*.2004 - Jay Jay Okocha (Bolton & Nigeria)
*.2003 - Jay Jay Okocha (Bolton & Nigeria)
*.2002 - El Hadji Diouf (Liverpool & Senegal)
*.2001 - Sammy Kuffour (Bayern Munich & Ghana)
*.2000 - Patrick Mboma (Parma & Cameroon)