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| Yaya Toure angered by African player of the year award snub |
Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has reacted angrily after failing to win the Confederation of African Football's player of the year award.
The 32-year-old, who captained Ivory Coast to Africa Cup of Nations success last year, was second behind Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
"I think that's what makes the shame of Africa," he told Radio France International.
"To behave in this way is indecent! But what can we do?"
On stage at the ceremony the City midfielder admitted he was “disappointed” but appeared magnanimous towards Aubameyang and told his rival he had “been doing brilliantly well this year”. However, Touré later revealed the depth of his frustration and appeared to suggest that the voting had been unfair given his country’s success at the Nations Cup.
“I’m very, very disappointed. It’s sad to see Africa react this way, that they don’t think African achievements are important,” he said to the French radio station RFI.
“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.”
In a vote of coaches and technical directors of Caf nations, Borussia Dortmund forward Aubameyang got 143 points, with Toure on 136 and Ghana and Swansea midfielder Andre Ayew on 112.
Toure, BBC African footballer of the year for 2015, had won the Caf award in each of the previous four years.
Aubameyang, 26, is the first player from Gabon to win the award.
He has scored 18 goals in 17 Bundesliga games this season and 68 goals in 119 games since joining Dortmund from French side St-Etienne in 2013.
However, Gabon were eliminated at the group stage of last year's Africa Cup of Nations.
"We Africans, we do not show that Africa is important to us," said Toure.
"We give more priority to what's going on elsewhere than in our own continent. This is what is appalling.
Touré, who won the award in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, then added:
"I give an example: it's Lionel Messi who wins all the trophies but it's Ronaldo who is Ballon d'Or. What would you say? It would be unfair.
“But even Fifa, with all its history of corruption, wouldn’t do [what CAF judges did]. Yaya will take care of Yaya and let Africa take care of itself. 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.
"Yaya will look after himself, and let Africa look after itself. Like I'm often told, you shouldn't worry too much about Africa, because Africa will be the first to let you down."
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Source: DBM Staff
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