The African football king has expressed his displeasure about comments made by Yaya Toure after the Garbon forward was named the African Player of the Year.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang voiced out that he was hurt that his predecessor could label as ‘indecent’ the decision to give the Borussia Dortmund striker the coveted Best Player award.
Manchester City midfielder Toure said the decision had brought “shame” on the continent, while Swansea‘s Andre Ayew also questioned the move.
Aubameyang has however taken his time to respond to the stinging comments.
“I was hurt by what was said,”
Borussia Dortmund striker Aubameyang said.
“It’s a shame.”
Many analysts had tipped either the Ivorian or the Ghanaian to go home with the award after both Yaya Toure and Andre Ayew reached the African Cup of Nations final, and Gabon went out early but it was the Gabonese who emerged the surprise winner.
In a vote of coaches and technical directors of CAF nations, Aubameyang got 143 points, with Toure on 136 and Swansea midfielder Ayew on 112. However, Aubameyang insists he was not surprised by Africa’s choice.
“The award is based on the whole year and not just the African Cup of Nations,” added Aubameyang, who is currently the leading scorer in the Bundesliga with 18 goals.
Toure, BBC African footballer of the year for 2015, had won the CAF award in each of the previous four years.