Former Manchester City star, Yaya Toure has claimed that football in Africa is expressive and filled with joy, Softfootball reports.
The former African Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner is currently retired and watching his country at the 35th edition of the tournament as Ivory Coast beat Gabon 3-2 in a dramatic encounter to book a round of 16 spot where they will face Burkina Faso.
Speaking to Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand on his official podcast on New Year’s Day, Yaya Toure gave insights on African football from his perspective while growing up. He explained:
Happiness, freedom as well. In the beginning, in the streets back then, it’s just to enjoy with your friends and sometimes we have some rewards when we are winning. We have trophy or little money you know and we enjoy it. It was very fun to be honest.
Yaya Toure’s Ivory Coast battled to a 1-1 draw against Cameroon which made their final match a must win against Gabon to avoid a lower ranking in Group F that would have made them pair tournament powerhouse and finalist at the last edition, Nigeria.
Here is the video of Toure’s interview with Rio Ferdinand on his official podcast. Watch below.
Yaya Toure’s football journey from Ivory Coast 🇨🇮
CC: @rioferdy5, @YayaToure, #AFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/PDJuL1yPYk
— Rio Ferdinand Presents (@RioMeets) January 1, 2026Yaya Toure made over 100 appearances for the Ivory Coast, captaining them to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, and won the CAF African Footballer of the Year award four consecutive times (2011-2014).
Yaya Toure will be rooting for Ivory Coast to beat Burkina Faso on Tuesday, January 6 and progress into the quarter final of the African Cup of Nation in Morocco.
