Yaya Toure beats Didier Drogba to win CAF Footballer of the Year for third year in a row

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure speaks after being declared winner of CAF African Footballer of the Year Award in Lagos on January 9, 2014.

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure was named the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Footballer of the Year yesterday.

It is the third consecutive win for the Ivory coast international and also the third time a player has achieved a hat-trick of wins after Abedi Pele (1991-93) and Samuel Eto’o (2003-05).

The 30-year-old beat fellow Ivorian and Galatasaray striker Didier Drogba (who won it in 2006 and 2009) and Nigerian and Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel. The award was presented to him at a ceremony in Lagos, Nigeria.

Although he did not win a major trophy last year with Ivory Coast or Manchester City, Toure has been in fine form which was also rewarded with a spot in the 23-player shortlist for FIFA World Player of the Year.

Yaya Toure had also recently won the BBC African Footballer of the Year award.