Yaya Toure celebrates a goal against Manchester United on September 22, 2013. Man City beat Man U, 4-1. Photo: Reuters
Will Yaya Toure win a third straight African Footballer of the Year award?
Based on his recent performances, the 30-year-old Toure has to be considered a strong contender once again for the trophy.
African football analyst David Legge in Johannesburg says the rugged midfielder for Manchester City and Ivory Coast is doing very well early in the English Premier League season.
Yaya Toure scores against Manchester United on September 22, 2013. Photo: Reuters
Heading into Saturday’s (October 5) home match against Everton, Toure has scored in four straight games to put him near the top of the EPL scoring table.
Toure’s first two goals of the EPL season came off free kicks against Newcastle United and Hull City.
Manchester City’s Chilean manager, Manuel Pellegrini, says the Ivorian star often stays late after club training sessions to improve his free kick technique.
Yaya Toure jumps for joy after scoring against Hull City August 31, 2013. Photo: Reuters
In addition to his Man City duties, Toure is a key player for the Elephants of Ivory Coast, Africa’s highest-ranked football team.
He and the Elephants are bidding for a third straight World Cup appearance, and only west African rival Senegal stands between Toure and Ivory Coast going to Brazil 2014.
Ivory Coast will host Senegal October 12 in Abidjan in the first leg of their two-match play-off series. The winner of the series, on aggregate, will be one of five African teams to qualify for the 2014 World Cup.
With three goals so far in the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign, Yaya Toure will surely be trying to find the net against the Senegalese and help Ivory Coast return to football’s premier event next year in Brazil.
”Manchester City’s Chilean manager, Manuel Pellegrini, says the Ivorian star often stays late after club training sessions to improve his free kick technique”
Yaya Toure works real hard, and his efforts are paying off equally well. I believe he has better days ahead.
Keep the goals coming, Yaya Toure!
Thanks for checking in, Segun! Like Yaya Toure, you also “work real hard,” and your efforts on Nightline Africa Sports, heard Sundays on the Voice of America, continue to “pay off equally well.” Better days are ahead, bro!
yaya toure is indeed a great player, i think it would be a close call between john obi mikel and yaya toure.
but at the moment, mikel has an edge.
Sonny, in my own view he deserves another African Footballer of the year award.I like watching Yaya toure in Man City matches.The rugged midfielder is highly dreaded now in the EPl by contending rivals.