ACCRA – Ivory Coast and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Touré was named African Footballer of the Year for a second successive time on Thursday, edging out compatriot Didier Drogba.
Report by Reuters
The 29-year-old midfielder topped the annual poll of African national team coaches and technical directors to add to the award he won in 2011.
Touré played a pivotal role for both club and country, helping Ivory Coast to the African Nations Cup (Afcon) final in February and then playing a big part in taking Manchester City to the Premier League title in a dramatic season finale.
“Touré’s immense contribution in helping Manchester City win their first domestic championship in 44 years saw him pick up Africa’s most prestigious individual award,” said the citation from the Confederation of African Football (Caf), who did not release the tally of votes.
He was also a goalscorer in August’s FA Community Shield against Chelsea, won 3-2 by City, and helped the Ivorians easily go past a strong Senegal side in Afcon qualification in September and October.
Voters picked him ahead of sentimental favourite Drogba, whose dramatic celebrations after converting the decisive penalty for Chelsea against Bayern Munich in the Champions League final were among the abiding images of the footballing year.
Winning the Champions League completed a full sweep of trophy success at club level with Chelsea for Drogba, but also heightened the drama of just three months earlier when he missed a penalty for the Ivory Coast in the Afcon final. Zambia went on to win in post-match shoot-out although Drogba, who signed a two-and-a-half year deal with Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua in June, won praise for bravely again stepping up to take a kick and scoring.
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Caf Awards Player of the Year – Yaya Touré Africa-based Player of the Year – Mohammed Aboutrika Women’s Footballer of the Year – Genoveva Anonma (Equatorial Guinea) National Team of the Year – Zambia Coach of the Year – Hervé Renard (Zambia) Club of the Year – Al-Ahly Legends Award – Mahmoud El-Gohary (Egypt) and Rigobert Song (Cameroon) National Women’s Team of the Year – Equatorial Guinea Fair Play Award – Gabon national team supporters Most Promising Talent of the Year – Mohamed Salah (Egypt and FC Basel)
