Yaya Toure is African Player of the Year

The Ivorian has been named the best player from the continent for a record fourth straight time after beating Vincent Enyeama and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at a ceremony in Lagos

Manchester City playmaker Yaya Toure has been named African Player of the Year for a record fourth year in a row at a ceremony in Lagos on Thursday night.

The Ivorian, who beat off competition from local favourite Vincent Enyeama and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, equals Samuel Eto’o’s four titles but becomes the first player to win in back-to-back years.

The 31-year-old scored 20 goals in 35 Premier League appearances for Manuel Pellegrini’s side in the 2013-14 campaign, as they held off Liverpool’s challenge by two points.

Aubameyang enjoyed a fine debut campaign at Borussia Dortmund last season, wowing fans with his direct running and lightning pace.

The Gabon international scored 13 Bundesliga goals last term to help Jurgen Klopp’s men to a second-placed finish and the DFB-Pokal final.

Enyeama captained Nigeria at the World Cup and was an ever-present in a Lille side that finished third in Ligue 1 last term, helping the club to the Champions League preliminary stages where they lost to Porto.

Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan and Nigeria’s Ahmed Musa were previously on a five-man list, before that was whittled down to three in late December.

– goal