Yaya Toure today proclaimed his disgust with the news he missed out on African Footballer Of The Year award for 2015 to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, saying that the decision "brings shame to Africa".
Yaya is, of course, wrong. Setting aside the absurd narcicissm of Toure's comments, the awards did shamefully snub the true hero of African football in 2015: Ivory Coast goalkeeper Boubacar Barry.
Barry was the hero as Ivory Coast ended a tortuorous 23 year wait for a second African Nations Cup title.
The failure of Didier Drogba and the rest of the Ivorian Golden Generation to win the continental tournament prior to last year was one of modern football's greatest hoodoos.
Despite having the strongest squad in Africa, each tournament had became just the latest instalement in the unfolding psychological horror that was Ivory Coast in their home tournament.
Barry was among many players entwined with this spiralling nightmare, and he was in goal for the penalty shoot-out defeat in the 2012 final to shock winners Zambia.
Barry also played in the 2014 World Cup, where he is chiefly remembered for eating some grass:
At the age of 35, Barry was relegated to second choice goalkeeper by new coach Herve Renard for the 2015 Cup of Nations. He was however, thrust into the spotlight following an injury to first-choice Sylvain Gbohouo on the eve of the final.
Barry kept a clean sheet throughout the 120 minutes against Ghana, and it was in the penalty shootout in which he earned acclaim.
https://youtu.be/ptM6dAAnEms
The highlights are numerous.
The stoic repsonse to saving his first penalty, (4.08) prefacing wild celebrations as he saw the next penalty sail wide (6.11)
The opposition-baiting Fabien Barthez - style leans against the post. (8.45)
The melodramatic collapse with cramp after the save from the oppostion goalkeeper. (20.10)
The second melodramatic collapse with a wrist injury after the cramp. (from above)
The injury-eschewing sprint following the decisive penalty. (22.06)
Barry gave an emotional interview afterwards, where he said "I am not big in size or talent. But I thought of my mother who loves me". Here is the interview in French, in which he broke down in tears:
https://youtu.be/VYkSOKDkSGk
Barry was hailed by Yaya Toure, saying that he "showed us the true example of solidarity".
Barry retired from international football two months later, wonderfully confirming his retirement in a letter to the Ivory Coast government, writing that "after many years in the national team it is time to give way to a new generation".
