Touré named best in Africa for third time in a row

Manchester City FC and Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Touré has been named Confederation of African Football (CAF) African Player of the Year for the third time in succession.

Touré, 30, beat off competition from compatriot Didier Drogba – of Galatasaray AŞ – and Nigeria and Chelsea FC midfielder John Obi Mikel to land the honour, which was decided by the head coaches and technical directors of CAF's member associations.

"What I am doing now, I am doing very well and I am very happy about that," said Touré, who joined City from FC Barcelona in summer 2010. "It was quite tight because there were good opponents in front of me. Obi Mikel was doing well, and Drogba as well, so I was thinking maybe I would lose it. I am lucky today, I am very proud of myself."

Touré helped City to reach the 2013 FA Cup final, where they lost 1-0 against Wigan Athletic FC, and to second place in last season's Premier League, 11 points behind neighbours Manchester United FC. Now under the charge of Manuel Pellegrini, City are just a point off the English top-flight summit and through for the first time to the UEFA Champions League round of 16, where they will face Barcelona.