Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has been named African Player of the Year for the third consecutive season.
The Ivory Coast international was honoured at a ceremony in Lagos, Nigeria on Thursday night.
The award, which is handed out by the the Confederation of African Football (CAF), is decided by a poll of African national team coaches and technical directors.
Recognised: Manchester City's Yaya Toure has been named the African Player of the Year for the third time
Toure beat off competition from Chelsea midfielder Jon Obi Mikel and
Galatasaray striker Didier Drogba to claim the award which was won by
Drogba in 2006 and 2009.
The 30-year-old, who has 13 goals in 26 appearances for his club so far this season, ended the year trophyless with City but did help his country to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive tournament.
The former Barcelona man joins Samuel Eto'o in winning the award for three consecutive years with the Cameroon star claiming the honour between 2003 and 2005.
On form: Toure scored in Manchester City's 6-0 thrashing of West Ham on Wednesday
Contenders: Toure beat Chelsea's Jon Obi Mikel (left) and Galatasaray's Didier Drogba to lift the award
Toure was also named the BBC's African Footballer of the Year in
December and was the only African to make the 23-man shortlist for the
2013 Ballon d'Or.
'Everyone at the club would like to congratulate Yaya on his fantastic achievement,' read a statement on www.mcfc.co.uk.
Rare: Chelsea striker Samuel Eto'o is the only other player to have won the award three times in a row
The Ivory Coast international was honoured at a ceremony in Lagos, Nigeria on Thursday night.
The award, which is handed out by the the Confederation of African Football (CAF), is decided by a poll of African national team coaches and technical directors.
Recognised: Manchester City's Yaya Toure has been named the African Player of the Year for the third time
The 30-year-old, who has 13 goals in 26 appearances for his club so far this season, ended the year trophyless with City but did help his country to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive tournament.
The former Barcelona man joins Samuel Eto'o in winning the award for three consecutive years with the Cameroon star claiming the honour between 2003 and 2005.
On form: Toure scored in Manchester City's 6-0 thrashing of West Ham on Wednesday
Contenders: Toure beat Chelsea's Jon Obi Mikel (left) and Galatasaray's Didier Drogba to lift the award
'Everyone at the club would like to congratulate Yaya on his fantastic achievement,' read a statement on www.mcfc.co.uk.
Rare: Chelsea striker Samuel Eto'o is the only other player to have won the award three times in a row
