BATA - Yaya Toure remains much of an enigma at international level, but glimpses of his club form at the Afcon is a major boon for Ivory Coast as they prepare for Sunday's final.
"Yaya has never before got his level for the national team," said coach Herve Renard of his captain after their 3-1 win over the DRC on Wednesday saw the Elephants to their third final in 10 years.
"But he has worked, he has scored and he has played with a lot of determination. To have players like him, Gervinho, [and] Wilfried Bony in the team is to work with fantastic talent. The Ivorian side is one under reconstruction but these are the pillars."
Toure, 31, has played at every Nations Cup since 2006, making his appearance at the finals in Equatorial Guinea a sixth. On top of that he has also participated at three successive World Cup finals.
But Sunday's final against either Equatorial Guinea or Ghana presents his first chance at a winners medal with his national team, to add to Champions League success with Barcelona in 2009 and league winners medals in Greece, Spain and England.
Toure's four successive African Footballer of the Year awards have all come on the back of his performances at club level.
Toure comes good as Afcon final looms
BATA - Yaya Toure remains much of an enigma at international level, but glimpses of his club form at the Afcon is a major boon for Ivory Coast as they prepare for Sunday's final.
"Yaya has never before got his level for the national team," said coach Herve Renard of his captain after their 3-1 win over the DRC on Wednesday saw the Elephants to their third final in 10 years.
"But he has worked, he has scored and he has played with a lot of determination. To have players like him, Gervinho, [and] Wilfried Bony in the team is to work with fantastic talent. The Ivorian side is one under reconstruction but these are the pillars."
Toure, 31, has played at every Nations Cup since 2006, making his appearance at the finals in Equatorial Guinea a sixth. On top of that he has also participated at three successive World Cup finals.
But Sunday's final against either Equatorial Guinea or Ghana presents his first chance at a winners medal with his national team, to add to Champions League success with Barcelona in 2009 and league winners medals in Greece, Spain and England.
Toure's four successive African Footballer of the Year awards have all come on the back of his performances at club level.
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