Yaya tipped for top award

CAIRO — Manchester City’s Yaya Toure will be favourite to collect a record fourth successive African Footballer of the Year crown after he was named in the list of final three nominees by the Confederation of African Football.

The Cote d’Ivoire midfielder faces competition from Borussia Dortmund and Gabon forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, as well as Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who plays for Lille.

Toure has collected the award for the last three years, matching the feat achieved by Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o and Ghana’s Abedi Pele.

Victory again would mean he joins Eto’o on four titles overall but would be the first player to reach that milestone in consecutive seasons. The award is voted for by the head coaches of the 56 national associations within the African governing body.

The winner will be announced in Lagos on January 8.

Below is the final list.

African Player of the Year

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon and Borussia Dortmund), Vincent Enyeama (Nigeria and Lille), Yaya Toure (Cote d’Ivoire and Manchester City)

African Player of the Year – Based in Africa

Akram Djahnit (Algeria and ES Setif), El Hedi Belamieri (Algeria and ES Setif), Firmin Mubele Ndombe (DR Congo and AS Vita)

Women’s Player of the Year

Annette Ngo Ndom (Cameroon and Amazon Grimstad), Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria and River Angels),

Desire Oparanozie (Nigeria and Guingamp)

Youth Player of the Year

Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria and River Angels), Fabrice Ondoa (Cameroon and Barcelona), Uchechi Sunday (Nigeria and River Angels)

Most Promising Talent