Skip to content

Toure upset by missing out on 5th straight African Player of the Year award

Jason Cairnduff / Reuters

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure was quite upset after Borussia Dortmund forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang won CAF African Player of the Year honours for 2015.

Toure, who won the award in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, was none too pleased with his second-place finish in 2015, telling French radio station RFI he is "very, very disappointed.

"It's sad to see Africa react this way, that they don't think African achievements are important," Toure said, according to the Guardian.

The brunt of Toure's fury was pointed at the supposed difference in how the two players' performances were evaluated. Toure helped Ivory Coast to an African Cup of Nations crown in 2015 while Aubameyang dominated in the German Bundesliga this season.

Toure believes their individual achievements were judged differently based on their location, specifically rewarding Aubameyang for excelling abroad instead of at home.

"I think this is what brings shame to Africa, because to act in that way is indecent," Toure said. "But what can we do about it? Us Africans, we don’t show that Africa is important in our eyes. We favour more what's abroad than our own continent. That is pathetic.

"As I've been told many times, you can't take care of Africa too much because Africa will be the first to let you down."

Related: Yaya Toure considering leaving Manchester City over birthday snub, claims his agent

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox