[Exclusive] Yaya Touré: “Football Is Neither a Continent Nor a Color”

Yaya Touré Responds to Fan Criticism Over His All-Time XI Selection

Ivory Coast star Yaya Touré has responded firmly but calmly to criticism following the release of his “legendary eleven” as part of a promotional campaign with Nissan. The midfielder’s selection did not include any African players, which sparked a wave of negative reactions and even insults from some African fans, particularly on social media platforms like the Facebook page of Africa Top Sports.

“Football is not a continent or a color”

In an exclusive interview, Touré addressed the backlash:

“We tend to forget that football is not a continent or a color. I gave my all-time best team based on quality, not origin. Let’s stop classifying people by continent. I am proud to represent Africa where it matters most, but let’s not create a debate where there is none.”

He stressed that fans should focus on real issues, such as the lack of African representation in prestigious awards like the Ballon d’Or and how Africans themselves sometimes overlook their own talents in global rankings.

On including Zidane and Vieira: “They are African by origin”

Touré’s selection included players like Patrick Vieira and Zinedine Zidane, who, though they played for France, are of African descent. He explained:

“Patrick and Zinedine are Africans by origin. The fact that they played for France doesn’t change that. The real debate should be about how to develop African football. If our championships were stronger, more players would stay and represent their own nations.”

Criticism in Context: The Sagnol Controversy

Touré also weighed in on the Willy Sagnol controversy, which previously stirred public debate over racial bias in football:

“I’ve always spoken out against the stigmatization of African players. We must use incidents like the Sagnol episode to challenge stereotypes and promote tolerance.”

On His Form and Mindset

Despite a tough start to the season and ongoing media scrutiny, Touré reassured fans:

“Yaya Touré is doing well. I will always give my best — for the fans, and for Africa.”

This candid and thoughtful response underlines Yaya Touré’s commitment to African football, while also highlighting the need for more meaningful conversations about development, representation, and equality in the sport.