Yaya Touré has claimed the CFA African Footballer of the Year award for 2014, his fourth successive win in the competition. He has equalled Samuel Eto’o’s record of four wins in the competition, putting him joint-top alongside the Cameroonian.
Yaya beat off competition from LOSC and Nigeria’s Vincent Enyeama and Borussia Dortmund and Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to win the award.
It is fitting that Touré has been announced as the winner of this award on the brink of the 2015 African Cup of Nations. Not only will it give him a sense of pride going into his continent’s tournament, but it might make him work harder in order to try and go all the way – and maybe make it five African Player of the Year awards this time next year.
Yaya played 25 games in the first half of 2014, arguably his better half of the year. He scored 13 goals in that time, giving him the title as City’s top scorer for last season. He also took his country to the World Cup in Brazil in the summer and played in all three of their group games.
In the second half of 2014, Yaya managed 24 matches, scoring 8 times. He’s not played as big a part as he did last campaign, but has become an important cog in recent weeks, and will be missed as he goes off to the AFCON.
This award caps off a rollercoaster of a year for Yaya Touré, with winning two trophies and “Cakegate” in the summer. All in all, it’s been a good year for him, and he probably deserves his award. Here’s to a better 2015.
