Cote d’Ivoire national team captain and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure on Friday blasted the awarding of the African Player of the Year to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as “indecent” and claimed it brought “shame” on the continent.
Toure had been favourite to win the prize for a record fifth successive time having skippered the Ivory Coast to the Africa Cup of Nations title but he lost out to Gabon and Borussia Dortmund hotshot Aubameyang.
“It’s sad to see Africa react in this way, it does not give importance to African things,” 32-year-old Toure told Radio France International (RFI).
“This is what makes the shame of Africa. To behave in this way is indecent, but what can we do? We don’t show that Africa is important in our eyes.
“We give more priority to what is happening elsewhere than to our own continent. This is what is pathetic.”
Aubameyang, 26, has scored 18 goals in 17 Bundesliga games this season.
He earned 143 points in a poll of African coaches, seven more than Toure. Ghana and Swansea City striker Andre Ayew was third on 112 points.
Toure even hinted at skullduggery in the voting process.
“Even FIFA with all of its history of corruption would not do this,” he said.
Toure added that there would be similar incredulity if the Ballon d’Or, to be awarded on Monday, came up with such a result.
“I will give you an example — Lionel Messi wins all the trophies but it’s Cristiano Ronaldo who gets the Ballon d’Or. What would you say? It would be unfair.”
The president immediately conferred upon Aubameyang one of the country’s leading civil honours, Commander of the National Order of Merit.
However, the Manchester City midfielder, who has won the last four African player of the year awards, congratulated Aubameyang for his victory.
