24 Dec 2011

Yaya Toure named African footballer of the year

3:56 pm on 24 December 2011

The Ivory Coast and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has been named African Footballer of the Year.

He finished ahead of Ghana's Andre 'Dede' Ayew and Mali's Seydou Keita in the polling by national coaches of the 53 member associations of the Confederation of African Football.

Toure, the second Ivorian to win the award after twice-winner Didier Drogba, enjoyed a fine year for club and country.

He scored the winning goal in Manchester City's 1-0 win over Stoke City in the FA Cup final and this season has impressed in big-spending City's rise to the top of the Premier League.

He also helped Ivory Coast finish their African Nations Cup qualifying campaign with a 100 percent record.