Former Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Touré has commented on the 2013 African Footballer of the Year Award, which he won, saying that former Super Eagles star John Mikel Obi was deserving of the honor due to his performances for both his club and national team.
John Mikel Obi was widely viewed as the favorite to win the 2013 award, having played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s triumph at the Africa Cup of Nations, where they secured their third continental title. He was also selected by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in the tournament’s Best XI, alongside fellow Nigerian players Vincent Enyeama, Efe Ambrose, Victor Moses, and Emmanuel Emenike.
Mikel delivered standout performances for Chelsea, playing a key role in their 2012 Champions League victory and helping the club secure its first Europa League title in 2013. On the other hand, Touré — who had previously won back-to-back African Player of the Year awards — reached the 2013 FA Cup final with Manchester City but suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Wigan at Wembley.
“You deserve it to be honest, because the league, the season was perfect,” Yaya Touré said on the Obi One Podcast. “Nigerian won the AFCON, and you were instrumental in this period. I was told nothing and I said Obi deserved it at that time,” he added.
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John Mikel Obi revealed that he had been informed in advance about winning the African Best Player award and was officially invited to the ceremony. In contrast, Yaya Touré said he had no prior knowledge and attended the event simply to show support for African football.
“If it was me or him, it would be fine. Me attending that was the question. If we’re not going there, who’s gonna support? We have seen Europeans supporting their own cause, own event, own things. We Africans want to do that but we have to make sure that we go together,” Touré said.
Yaya Touré clinched the 2013 African Footballer of the Year award with a total of 373 points, ahead of John Obi Mikel who came in second with 265 points, and Didier Drogba who placed third with 236 points.
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