Toure: Hurting

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Yaya contemplates retirement

Manchester City ace Yaya Toure is considering retiring from international football following Ivory Coast’s AFCON final heartache.

The African Player of the Year starred at CAF’s flagship event but was unable to stop the Elephants from losing to unfancied Zambia on penalties in the tournament decider last weekend.

“We will see whether I carry on,” Toure told the Sunday Mirror.

“I have to think about what is best for me, for my club and for my country. I love playing for Ivory Coast so it is not an easy thing to think about.

“Maybe if we had won against Zambia things would have been easier for me. The disappointment is big at the moment so I will wait until I have a clear mind before deciding what to do.

“The African Nations is being played again next year and because we have lost the final it is an emotional time for us all.

“But a decision about playing for Ivory Coast has to be made. I will take my time and think about things, about what I will do.

“City are my club. I have a duty to them because I am a professional, but I also needed to play for my country.

“I did my duty, but I didn’t like being away from my City at such an important stage of the season.”