UPDATED: Ivory Coast's Toure says losing CAF award brings shame on Africa

Mahmoud Elassal , Friday 8 Jan 2016

Yaya Toure
Manchester City's Yaya Toure prepares to take a free kick during the English League Cup semi final first leg soccer match between Everton and Manchester City at Goodison Park Stadium, Liverpool, England, Wednesday Jan. 6, 2016. (AP)

Ivory Coast and Manchester City forward Yaya Toure has expressed his disappointment after losing the 2015 African Player of the Year Award, but congratulated Borussia Dortmund Gabonese striker Pierre Eric Aubameyang for winning the title.

"I am very, very disappointed. It's sad to see Africa react like this, not giving any importance to African (competitions),"Toure told French radio station RFI.

"I think it brings shame on Africa. It is indecent. What can we do? We, Africans, we do not show that Africa is important in our eyes. We prioritise external achievements over our own continent. It is lamentable."

A four-time African Player of the Year, Toure failed to win the title for the fifth successive year to Aubameyang by just seven votes on Thursday during the Glo-CAF awards ceremony held in Lagos, Nigeria.

"I'm quite disappointed, but I don't want to complain too much," Toure said earlier after the ceremony. 

"I just want to give credit to Aubameyang – you've been doing brilliantly well this year."

The 26-year-old Aubameyang also defeated Andre Ayew of Ghana, who lay third on the list.

Aubameyang, who did not win a major trophy with Dortmund, benefited from his excellent performance throughout the year as he frequently made the headlines with his fine displays, especially in the second half of 2015. Overall he scored 27 goals in 27 appearances in 2015.

The Manchester City 2013-14 player of the year, Toure won the African Footballer of the Year in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

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