Yaya Touré was awarded the CAF African Footballer of the Year in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The Ivorian midfielder became the first player to win the men’s award in three consecutive years.
Touré’s success came during a dominant period with Manchester City, where his powerful running, passing range and goals from midfield helped the club establish itself among England’s elite. He was also a key member of the Ivory Coast national team, one of Africa’s strongest sides during the early 2010s.
The award is presented by the Confederation of African Football, commonly abbreviated as CAF. It is distinct from BBC African Footballer of the Year and other media or fan awards, which can have different winners in the same calendar year. For example, Ghana’s André Ayew won the BBC award for 2011, while Touré won CAF’s official men’s honor.
Touré later won the CAF award again in 2014, giving him four straight victories. Only a small group of African players, including Samuel Eto’o and George Weah, have matched his level of sustained recognition.