Yaya Toure has won the 2013 BBC African Footballer of the Year award.
The Ivory Coast and
Manchester City midfielder, who had been nominated in each of the past four
years, beat Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Victor Moses, John Mikel Obi and
Jonathan Pitroipa to this year's crown.
The 30-year-old told BBC
Sport: "I think I've been nominated for five years in a row and finally
winning the award is amazing.
"It's a fantastic
achievement because I don't think there has ever been as many quality African
players in top-level international football as there are now: Aubameyang,
Pitroipa, Mikel, Moses, Salomon Kalou, Gervinho... we have fantastic players.
"I also think African
football is improving and that means a lot to us. And as an African, I'm very
happy."
The shortlist for the award
was drawn up by 44 football experts across Africa, who based their choices on
players' skill, technical ability, teamwork, consistency and fair play.
A record number of fans then
voted for their favourite either online or by text message.
And those fans have
considered Toure to be the standout African player over the past year, in
recognition of the Ivorian's displays of power, pace, creativity and goals.
Toure said: "Thank you
to all the fans around the world who continue to support me. It shows how much
fans love you and appreciate your job as well.
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