Yaya Toure has expressed deep anger on the voters who voted Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ahead of him at Thursday’s African Football awards Gala.
The Ivorian, who had won the award for four consecutive years until yesterday, was expecting to win again after leading Ivory Coast to victory at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
Gabonese, Aubameyang was voted by coaches and technical directors of African national teams who are the only eligible voters to decide who wins the prestigious award.
The 26-year-old kept a smashing record of 18 goals in 17 Bundesliga matches for Borussia Dortmund but was eliminated with the national team in the group stage of the 2015 Nations Cup, earlier in the year.
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But speaking with Radio France International, Toure described his failure to win as “pathetic” and a “shame on Africa”.
“I’m very, very disappointed,” Toure said.
“I think this is what brings shame to Africa. Because to behave in this way, it is indecent!
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“But what can we do? We Africans, we do not show that Africa is important to us. We focus more outside our own continent. That is pathetic!
“It’s sad to see Africa react this way, that they don’t think African achievements are important.”
The 32-year-old continued with his condemnation of Africa, wondering why it was easy for the continent to favour Aubameyang’s superb performance in the Bundesliga over his own showing at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
“I give an example: Lionel Messi has won all the trophies but [if] Cristiano Ronaldo has the award [the 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or], what would you say? It would be unfair!
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“FIFA, even with all the stories of corruption, would not do that! I believe that today, with what happened, CAF will go there too.”
Toure implied he might be quitting any continental event, saying he would look after himself and forget Africa.
“Yaya will look after Yaya and Yaya will allow Africa be.
“As I often say, do not care too much for Africa because Africa will be the first to let you down.”
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Still, he congratulated Aubameyang, telling him: “You were brilliant.”
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7 comments
I disagree with Yaya. He should find out the criteria for the selection of a winner. I don’t think the sole criterion is winning the Nation’s cup. Or did Ivory Coast win the Nation’s cup for those 4 years he won. He should not be petty to avoid losing his admirers.
I think Tour is seriously greedy and selfish. Where does he plies his trade? Is it any different from emmerick? I am disappointed in him. Shame to him, a bad loser
Yaya is sentimental he should accept defeat
Yaya won the prestigious award in 2013 at the expense of John Obi Mikel who won Afcon with his team. Why is he now disappointed?
Yaya is a bad looser. Aubameyang was by far ahead of him in 2015. The award was not about their teams but about them as individuals. He reached his height in 2014, and that is it!
Yaya could only be reminding us of how he got past Mikel Obi previously at the GLO/CAF Awards of 2013/2014. Or… I appreciate the truth from him that Mikel should’ve been crowned African Best for 2013 because, he (Mikel) did not only win that year’s nations cup, but outclassed Yaya at the quarter finals where Nigeria humbled a star-studded Ivorian side, two goals to one. Mikel did not complain, why then all this complains? Abeg, save yourself some shame jor!
Your comment..yaya u re a loser,period.