Fans select Touré as Africa’s top footballer

YAYA Touré has been voted BBC African footballer of the year for 2015.

The 32-year-old midfielder from Ivory Coast becomes only the third player, after Nigerians Nwankwo Kanu and Jay-Jay Okocha, to have received the honour twice.

Football fans voted for Manchester City’s Touré, who first won in 2013, ahead of Yacine Brahimi, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, André Ayew and Sadio Mané.

“I am very proud. To receive this dedication from the fans is unbelievable,” Touré told BBC Sport. “Also, I want to pay tribute to the other nominees. African football is growing up, becoming much better, and we have fantastic young players coming through now.”

Touré described all five nominees as “champions”.

He added: “I am delighted and very happy. And as an African player, I want to lead all my younger brothers to be successful in the future.

“When I was a kid I was always dreaming of being an important player. I have sacrificed a lot.

“I will continue to try to win a trophy every year, I will fight to win a personal trophy.”