Manchester City and Ivory Coast star Yaya Toure has blasted the Confederation of African Football after he failed to win the African Player of the Year for the fifth time in a row, reports El’Equipe.
The midfield ace reportedly described CAF’s decision to hand over the award to Gabon international Pierre-Emerrick Aubameyang as what ''brings shame’’ to the African continent.
Aubameyang won the continental award by garnering 143 points, seven more than his closest competitor Yaya Toure. The Borussia Dortmund star has scored 18 goals in 17 Bundesliga matches this season. Swansea’s Andre Ayew came third with 112 points.
The Arsenal target addresses the audience after being named African Player of the Year
El’Equipe further claims that the Manchester City man did not like the idea of coming second to the 26-year-old Gabon international. He allegedly told French radio station RFI:
“I’m very, very disappointed. 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.’’
“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.”
Football fans on Twitter also blasted the 32-year-old, while some accused him of being petty and jealous of his own African brother:
Yaya Toure can be like cristiano ronaldo thinking he can win everything
— Samuel Muhia (@SamuelMuhia_) January 8, 2016
RFI | Yaya Touré says that picking Aubameyang over him for the African player of the year is a 'disgrace to Africa' We have a bad loser
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) January 8, 2016
.@oluwashina and I get the feeling Yaya was hoping for a Steve Harvey/Miss Universe moment in Abuja last night.. https://t.co/dHg3YomH9x
— NickCavell BBCAfrica (@BBC_NickCavell) January 8, 2016
In a separate interview after the award ceremony, Toure is seen questioning CAF’s decision to name Aubameyang the African Player of the Year, yet the Ivory Coast international had guided his national team to the African Cup of Nations. He also argued that he was named in UEFA’s team of the year and among the 22 best players in the world.
In the interview, he stated:
''Normally, if you won the African Cup of Nations, and you are named as part of the 22 best players in the world, and the FIFA FIFPro as well, and you come second (in the African award), what do you have to do?’’
Watch the interview below:
WATCH: Ivory Coast star Yaya Toure on missing out on a 5th Africa Player of The Year award #tv3sportsgh pic.twitter.com/dv8PIMgUyQ
— TV3 Sports (@TV3SportsGh) January 8, 2016