Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has reacted rather badly to the news that he won’t be the African Footballer of the Year for the fifth season running, The Guardian reports.
Advertisement
The first player from Gabon to win the title said he hope to get a second award next year with his rich run of form.
The Daily Mail quotes Borussia Dortmund forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as ruling out an exit from the Bundesliga side, amid speculation that Arsenal had lodged a club-record offer of £44.6m to the Gabonese forward.
“Maybe to play the whole season three games a week, he is not able to do it, but I think he can play in the way he’s playing now”.
The Manchester City midfielder went on to say that he is disappointed with his home continent of Africa after this decision and he will now look out only for himself.
“When I return to Europe, a lot of questions will be asked”.
Toure did take time to praise Aubameyang’s achievements, adding: “You were brilliant this year”.
However, Gabon were eliminated at the group stage of last year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
It was sweet revenge for Aubameyang after he lost the 2014 prize to Toure who scooped the prestigious individual accolade in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
“I am disappointed but that won’t take anything from anybody”. You can’t talk always about it being because he’s older.
“But this is sport and sometimes these things happen”. And today was a hard one. Samatta garnered 127 points, ahead of his TP Mazembe teammate and DR Congo goalkeeper Robert Muteba Kidiaba, who amassed 88 points.
In the women football category, Cameroonian Gaelle Enganamouit, was also crowned female footballer of the year.
Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Etebo Oghenekaro were winners also on the night that the best of African musical acts liven up the International Conference Centre in Abuja.
Advertisement
“He has risen through the ranks and this is a just reward”, said Brice Ignegue, the president of the Panthers’ (the national team’s nickname) fan club.
