Yaya Touré lands third successive African footballer of the year award

 
Yaya Touré, the Ivory Coast midfielder, has landed his third successive African footballer of the year award.

The Manchester City player edged out Nigeria's Mikel John Obi and fellow Ivorian Didier Drogba to make it a hat-trick of wins, emulating Abedi Pele and Samuel Eto'o.

Twenty-four hours after scoring in City's 6-0 demolition of
West Ham United in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final, a teary-eyed Touré picked up the award at a gala ceremony in Lagos.

"I'm very proud and happy to be the winner today," Touré, dressed in traditional Nigerian robes, told the audience. "I congratulate my brother Obi Mikel who deserved it as well. It's an unbelievable award for all those who helped me through my career a lot and those who supported me for a long time."

The Ivorian came top of a poll voted by Africa's national team coaches.

Touré's success came at the end of a bleak 12-month period for individual achievement by African footballers. His official citation praised him for helping the Ivorians to qualify for the World Cup in Brazil but the choice is more likely for his consistency at club level and the dominant role he plays at Manchester City.

Chelsea's Mikel was on the shortlist after helping Nigeria to the African Nations Cup title in February.

Abedi Pele of Ghana won three in a row between 1991–93 while the Cameroonian Eto'o took the award from 2003-05 and also won it in 2010.