Yaya Toure Named (2013 BBC) African Footballer Of The Year
The Ivory Coast international and Manchester City midfielder has today been named the 2013 African footballer of the year by BBC. Yaya Toure who has been nominated in the past four years beat John Obi Mikel, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Jonathan Pitroipa and Victor Moses to the crown. On receiving the award, the humble Ivory Coast giant, also the current official Confederation Of African Football player of the year had the following to say. “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."
"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."
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Africans love football, in fact, football is a religion in Africa. 50% of the population watched some part of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The final game of the UEFA Champions League in May 2015 attracted over 20 million African viewers. Across the continent, everywhere you go, you'll run into young boys, girls, men and women all in football jerseys. Unfortunately, most of these Jerseys and football enthusiasm is for foreign leagues and teams