Yaya Toure joins Okocha, Kanu as 2-time winners of BBC award

Yaya Toure has joined Nigerian stars, Jay-Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu, as a two-time winner of the BBC African footballer of the year.

The 32-year-old Ivory Coast midfielder becomes only the third player to attain the feat, BBC confirms.

Kanu took the laurel in 1997 and 1998, while Jay-Jay Okocha won the award in 2003 and 2004.

According to BBC, football fans voted for Manchester City’s Toure, who first won in 2013, ahead of Yacine Brahimi, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Andre Ayew and Sadio Mane.

“I am very proud. To receive this dedication from the fans is unbelievable,” Toure told BBC Sport, describing all five nominees as champions.

“Also I want to pay tribute to the other nominees. African football is growing up, becoming much better and we have fantastic young players coming through now.”

“I am delighted and very happy. And as an African player, I want to lead all my younger brothers to be successful in the future. When I was a kid I was always dreaming of being an important player.

“I have sacrificed a lot. I will continue to try to win a trophy every year, I will fight to win a personal trophy.”

Since Okocha, no Nigerian has won the award, with Vincent Enyeama coming closest in 2014.