Yaya Toure says the decision to name Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as CAF player of the year ahead of him “brings shame to Africa”, FourFourTwo reports.
Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure
has given a scathing assessment of the CAF player of the year awards
after Borussia Dortmund forward Pierre-EmerickAubameyang prevented him
from scooping the continental prize for a record fifth time.
Toure has been handed the award for the
past four years and was tipped to continue this streak having captained
Ivory Coast to Africa Cup of Nations glory at the start of 2015, while
continuing to be an influential presence in the Premier League for City.
But the 32-year-old was beaten by 143
points to 136 in the final vote by Gabon international Aubameyang, who
finished as runner-up to Toure in the 2014 poll.
Aubameyang has been in sensational form
for Dortmund during 2015-16, scoring 27 times in as many club
appearances, but Toure felt it was regrettable that these achievements
were preferred to his feat of leading Ivory Coast to a first AFCON crown
since 1992.
The former Barcelona star then
remarkably likened the perceived injustice of him missing out on the
award – which would have taken him above Cameroon great Samuel Eto’o on
the list of all-time winners – to the corruption scandals that have
engulfed football’s global governing body FIFA over recent months.
“I am very, very disappointed,” he told Afrique Foot. “It’s sad to see Africa react this way, that they don’t think African achievements are important.
“I think this is what brings shame to Africa, because to act in that way is indecent. But what can we do about it?
“Us Africans, we don’t show that Africa
is important in our eyes. We favour more what’s abroad than our own
continent. That is pathetic.
“Even FIFA, with all its history of corruption, wouldn’t do this.”
Toure has not featured for Ivory Coast
since March and the player’s long-term international future could be in
doubt after he insisted that he will look out for himself after being
“let down” by Africa.
“Yaya will take care of Yaya and let
Africa take care of itself,” he said. “As I’ve been told many times, you
can’t take care of Africa too much because Africa will be the first to
let you down.
“When I return to Europe, a lot of
questions will be asked. I think I’m going to have to answer them. As
I’m someone who’s honest, I will always tell the truth.”
Toure did take time to praise Aubameyang’s achievements, adding: “You were brilliant this year.”
Source: PUNCHNGR
