Yaya Toure has been voted the BBC African Footballer of the Year 2015.<\/p>\n
The 32-year-old Ivory Coast 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\u2019s Toure, who first won in 2013, ahead of Yacine Brahimi, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Andre Ayew and Sadio Mane. \u201cI am very proud.<\/p>\n
To receive this dedication from the fans is unbelievable,\u201d Toure told BBC Sport. \u201cAlso I want to pay tribute to the other nominees. African football is growing up, becoming much better and we have fantastic young players coming through now.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are all champions. We all want to win. For me to be the winner I am delighted and very happy. And as an African player, I want to lead all my younger brothers to be successful in the future. \u201cWhen I was a kid I was always dreaming of being an important player. I have sacrificed a lot and when I receive trophies like this I am always happy and always delighted. \u201cI will continue to try to win a trophy every year; I will fight to win a personal trophy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Previous Winners<\/strong><\/p>\n 2014: Yacine Brahimi (Algeria) Two of the beaten nominees have won the award before, Algeria\u2019s Brahimi in 2014 and Ghanaian Ayew in 2011. 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 Ivory Coast to glory at the Africa Cup of Nations at the beginning of February.<\/p>\n He captained the team in Equatorial Guinea and opened the scoring in the semi-final to put his side on course for a 3-1 victory over Democratic Republic of Congo.<\/p>\n Toure was a key influence as he helped his country end a 23-year wait for their second Nations Cup title, overcoming Ghana in a penalty shoot-out in the final.<\/p>\n It was also Toure\u2019s first trophy with the national team in his sixth Nations Cup tournament, and having lost in two finals \u2013 in 2006 and 2012.<\/p>\n There was less success for Toure with his English Premier League club, who failed to defend their 2014 title and finished second to Chelsea.<\/p>\n But Toure remains a powerful presence in the heart of the midfield and contributed seven goals for City in the calendar year. Vera Kwakofi, Current Affairs Editor, BBC Africa said: \u201cYaya Toure\u2019s leadership for country and club offers an example for many young footballers aspiring to emulate his career. \u201cWe are pleased that as the BBC we are here to celebrate and share in this moment with his fans around the world.\u201d Yaya Toure has been voted the BBC African Footballer of the Year 2015. The 32-year-old Ivory Coast 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\u2019s Toure, who first won in 2013, ahead of Yacine Brahimi, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Andre Ayew […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":173733,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[29,3,38],"yoast_head":"\n
\n2009: Didier Drogba(Ivory Coast)
\n2004: Jay-Jay Okocha(Nigeria)
\n2013: Yaya Toure(Ivory Coast)
\n2008: Mohamed Aboutrika (Egypt)
\n2003: Jay-Jay Okocha(Nigeria)
\n2012: Chris Katongo(Zambia)
\n2007: Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo)
\n2002: El Hadji Diouf(Senegal)
\n2011: Andre Ayew(Ghana)
\n2006: Michael Essien(Ghana)
\n2001: Sammy Kuffour(Ghana)
\n2010: Asamoah Gyan(Ghana)
\n2005: Mohamed Barakat (Egypt)
\n2000: Patrick Mboma(Cameroon)<\/p>\n
\nGabon\u2019s Aubameyang was on the shortlist for the third year running, while Senegalese Mane made it for the first time.<\/p>\n
\n–
\nSource: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"