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Yaya Toure wins 2015 BBC African Footballer of the Year

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Nifemi Daniel

Ivory Coast captain, Yaya Toure, has emerged the 2015 BBC African Footballer of the year joining Nigerian duo of Austin Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu as two-time recipient of the award.

The Manchester City midfielder, who first won the award in 2013, edged Algeria’s Yacine Brahimi, Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ghana’s Andre Ayew and Senegal’s Sadio Mane to the award.

Football fans voted for Manchester City’s Toure, who first won in 2013,

“I am very proud. To receive this dedication from the fans is unbelievable,” Toure told BBC Sport.

Read also: No Eagles listed as BBC announces best African players

“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.”

Toure described all five nominees as “champions”.

He added: “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.”

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