• Midfielder says he should have finished ahead of Borussia Dortmund striker • ‘We favour more what’s abroad than our own continent’

Yaya Touré has described the decision not to award him Africa’s Player of the Year for the fifth successive year as “pathetic” and “indecent” after the Manchester City and Ivory Coast midfielder finished as runner-up behind the Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pips Yaya Touré to African player of the year award Read more

The Gabon international, who has scored 18 goals in 17 Bundesliga matches for Dortmund this season, was presented with the award in the Nigerian capital of Abuja on Thursday night after a vote of coaches and technical directors from Confederation of African Football nations placed him ahead of Touré. The 26-year-old amassed 143 points, with Touré – who last January led Ivory Coast to their first Cup of Nations triumph since 1992 – coming second with 136 points and Swansea’s André Ayew third with 112 points.

On stage at the ceremony the City midfielder admitted he was “disappointed” but appeared magnanimous towards Aubameyang and told his rival he had “been doing brilliantly well this year”. However, Touré later revealed the depth of his frustration and appeared to suggest that the voting had been unfair given his country’s success at the Nations Cup.

“I’m very, very disappointed. It’s sad to see Africa react this way, that they don’t think African achievements are important,” he said to the French radio station RFI.

“I think this is what brings shame to Africa, because to act in that way is indecent. But what can we do about it? Us Africans, we don’t show that Africa is important in our eyes. We favour more what’s abroad than our own continent. That is pathetic.”

Touré, who won the award in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, then added: “I’ll give an example. Messi won all the trophies but it’s Cristiano Ronaldo who won the award [Ballon d’Or 2014]. What would you say? It’s unfair.

“But even Fifa, with all its history of corruption, wouldn’t do [what CAF judges did]. Yaya will take care of Yaya and let Africa take care of itself. As I’ve been told many times, you can’t take care of Africa too much because Africa will be the first to let you down.

“When I return to Europe, a lot of questions will be asked. I think I’m going to have to answer them. As I’m someone who’s honest, I will always tell the truth.”

Ayew, who joined Swansea in the summer from Marseille, also seemed unhappy about finishing behind Aubameyang. In an interview with the French newspaper L’Equipe with the headline “Je m’interroge” (I’m wondering), the Ghana forward openly questioned the decision.

He said: “I wonder can someone explain what is the criteria in a Cup of Nations year. It seems logical to me that the major competition of the continent is considered in the verdict. The Euro would count for Europeans but the Cup of Nations would not count for Africans?

“Yaya and I were finalists at the Cup of Nations; he won, I finished top scorer. Then for our clubs, it was great as well – when I returned to Marseille (to finish the season) and I was also voted player of the month for August in England with Swansea. And Yaya, captain of the Elephants, had a good year too. So I thought it would be one of us...”

Ayew then attempted to qualify his comments: “Wait, Aubameyang is a friend and he had a great year. And he is a great guy. He scored a lot of goals but Yaya and I are not in the same position, although that did not prevent us from being as decisive. We must focus our competitions. We must respect them. If we Africans, we do not, then who will? Frankly, it was Yaya or me this year.”

The decision was also not very well received in Ghana or Ivory Coast, with some journalists suggesting that the poll had been manipulated to ensure Aubameyang came out on top. In particular Cameroon’s decision not to place Touré in the top five has been criticised, although the presence of his Ivory Coast team-mate Serge Aurier as coach Alexandre Belinga’s first choice makes it difficult to stand up that theory.

Aubameyang has yet to respond directly to Touré’s and Ayew’s comments but did send a message to Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o on Twitter on Friday evening thanking him for his support.

Aubameyang P-E (@Aubameyang7) une pensée particulière pour @setoo9 quadruple ballon d'or pétrie de classe qui ma inspiré et encouragé dans ma carrière.Merci #grandfrere

“A special thought for @setoo9 quadruple Golden Ball who has inspired and encouraged me in my career. Thanks #grandfrere,” he wrote.