Yaya Toure retains CAF Player of the Year Award

Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure has been named 2012 African Footballer of the Year, making him a two-time winner of the coveted individual Award.

The 29-year-old Manchester City Star edged out compatriot Didier Drogba and Cameronian Alexander Song to emerge Africa’s best player for the year for the second time running.

The  Awards ceremony was  held at the State Banquet Hall in Ghana’s capital, Accra on Thursday night.

Drogba was favourite to win the award after an exciting year for English giants Chelsea.

The 34-year-old dumped the limelight of the English Premiership for the megabucks of Shanghai Shenhua and contributed immensely to Chelsea’s feat of winning the UEFA Champions League for the first time.

The towering striker scored the equalizer and winning penalty to hand Chelsea the European title but missed a penalty in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finals during regulation time.

But the former Marseille striker was beaten to the award by his countryman Toure who also excelled heavily for both club and country.

He had another stellar season in 2011-2012. His box to box runs have become trade-mark for club and country and made Yaya an important player.

He scored nine goals in 43 games for Manchester City and helped the club win the English Premiership title in 44 years.

He was voted in the PFA Premier League team of the year 2011- 2012 season.

The third place went to Alexander Song who moved from Arsenal to Barcelona.

Below is the full list of award winners:

Africa Player of the Year – Yaya Toure
Africa Based Player of the Year – Mohamed Aboutrika (Egypt)
Fair Play award – Gabon National team supporters
Coach of the Year – Herve Renard
National team of the Year – Zambia
Women’s National Team of the Year – Equatorial Guinea
Club of the Year – Al Ahly (Egypt)
Referee of the Year – Haimoudi Djamel (Algeria)
Most Promising Talent of the Year – Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Women’s Footballer of the Year – Genoveva Anoman (Equatorial Guinea)
Legend Award – Mahmoud El-Gohary (Egypt)
Legend Award – Rigobert Song (Cameroon)
Platinum Award – John Mahama (President of Ghana)

Africa’s Best XI:
Goalkeeper: Lutunu Dule ( Congo)

Defenders: Ahmed El- Basha (Sudan), Walid Hicheri (Tunisia), Stoppila Sunzu (Zambia), Ahmed Fathi (Egypt)

Midfielders: Mohamed Aboutreika (Egypt), Yaya Toure (Cote d’Ivoire), Alex Song (Cameroon), Younes Belhanda (Morocco)

Forwards: Didier Drogba,(Cote d’Ivoire), Christopher Katongo (Zambia)
Coach: Herve Renard (France)

From: Ghanasoccernet.com