Yaya is African Footballer of the Year

Yaya Toure of Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday became a surprise winner of the 2012 African Footballer of the Year. The Manchester City midfielder who arrived in Ghana as the 2011 winner was named the best player on the continent following the Glo-CAF awards which was conducted in Accra late Thursday.

The former Barcelona player was voted in first place ahead of his compatriot Didier Drogba and Cameroonian Alexander Song who now plays for Barcelona. Drogba who practically helped Chelsea win their first UEFA Champions League trophy last season was the fans favourite from the start and was a surprise to the packed hall in Ghana on Thursday. It was the second time Drogba would come so close only to finish second following the controversial lose of the 2008 edition to Mali’s Frederick Kanoute.

The Woman Footballer of the Year was won by Genovova Anonma of Equatorial Guinea. Anonma’s award followed that of her country. The Central African country, which won the 2012 African Women Championship, was named the Women Team of the Year.

African Team of the Year expectedly went to Zambia. The Southern Africans won the 2012 Africa Nations Cup ahead of several favourites of bookmakers and defeated favourites Cote d’Ivoire in the final game. The Zambians got the award ahead of Cape Verde who eliminated Cameroon from the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations .

Zambia coach Herve Renard was voted Coach of the Year.

Nigerian players and teams failed to win any award. Accra played host to the awards gala for an unprecedented fourth time after the 2006, 2009 and 2011 events.