African player of the year: Yaya Toure pipped to award by prolific Arsenal & Man United target

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Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang narrowly pipped Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure to win the Confederation of African Football’s player of the year award last night.

The Gabonese international striker earned 143 points from a vote of coaches and technical directors of CAF member nations to become the first player from his country to be honoured with the prize.

Ivory Coast’s Africa Cup of Nations-winning captain Toure, who had won the accolade for the past four years, was a close second with 136. Swansea City’s Ghanaian forward Andre Ayew was third with 112.

Toure is quoted by BBC Sport as saying: “I’m quite disappointed, but I don’t want to complain too much. I just want to give credit to Aubameyang – you’ve been doing brilliantly well this year.”

Aubameyang had a prolific 2015 in which he scored 38 goals in 44 games for Dortmund. He is the Bundesliga’s top scorer this season with 18 in 17 – form which has attracted attention from England.

According to the Daily Star, Arsenal have made a £44.7m bid to beat Manchester United to his signature, while Liverpool, managed by former Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp, hold an interest.

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