Yaya Toure was named the BBC's
African Footballer of the Year for 2013
on Monday.
It was the fifth straight year the
Manchester City star had made the
shortlist but the first time he'd taken
the award.
"Thank you to all the fans around the
world who continue to support me and
who love me a lot," said Toure in a BBC
statement. "I'm very proud, I'm very
happy, this award is amazing.
"It's the fifth time in a row (being
nominated) and this time is very
special."
Toure, who has scored 13 goals for club
and country this year, was the choice of
the BBC's global audience.
He held off competition from Pierre-
Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon and
Borussia Dortmund), Victor Moses
(Nigeria and Liverpool, on loan from
Chelsea), John Obi Mikel (Nigeria and
Chelsea), and Jonathan Pitroipa
(Burkina Faso and Rennes).
Toure was presented with the award at
Manchester City's Carrington training
ground on Monday.
"We are pleased for Yaya Toure that he
has finally won the BBC African
Footballer of the Year on his fifth
nomination for the award," said BBC
Africa's current affairs editor Vera
Kwakofi.
"This shows the high esteem in which
he is held by lovers of African football
and the respect the fans have for his
exploits for club and country."
Toure now has the chance to complete
an awards double having been selected
among a 25-man shortlist for the
African Football Confederation (CAF)
African Footballer of the Year for 2013.
In contrast to the BBC award, Toure has
won the CAF equivalent in each of the
last two years and winning it for a third
consecutive year would see him match
the achievement of Cameroon striker
Samuel Eto'o, winner in 2003, 2004 and
2005.
The winner of the latest edition is due
to be announced at a ceremony in
Lagos, Nigeria, on January 9.
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