stars in Europe - Uche not angry at Nigeria World Cup snub

The Villarreal striker was not picked by Keshi, despite scoring 12 goals in the Spanish top flight this season. Uche has not played for his country since they won the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa last year. The 30-year-old insists, however, that he holds no grudges against Keshi. "Of course as a professional footballer you'd love to represent your country, but I have never had bad words towards the national coach," Uche is widely regarded as one of Nigeria's most reliable strikers at international level and is one of his nation's all-time top scorers, with 18 goals in 45 appearances, behind Rashidi Yekini, Segun Odegbami and Yakubu Aiyegbeni. 

10 May 2014
2014 World Cup - squad - Shola Ameobi in provisional Nigeria squad

Stoke striker Peter Odemwingie and Newcastle forward Shola Ameobi are in Nigeria's provisional 30-man World Cup squad for Brazil 2014.

7 May 2014
stars in Europe - Wilfried Bony - Ivory Coast striker happy at Swansea City

The Ivorian has scored 24 goals in all competitions since joining the Swans from Vitesse Arnhem for a club-record fee of £12m last summer. Bony, 25, has been the bright spot in a disappointing Premier League season. 

4 May 2014
NATIONAL TEAM - MOROCCO - COACH - former player Badou Zaki confirmed as new coach

Zaki takes charge of the Atlas Lions for the second time in his career.

3 May 2014
club - coaches - Youssef resigns as Al Ahly coach

Al Ahly has accepted the resignation of coach Mohamed Youssef on Thursday. Youssef had been in charge of Al Ahly since May last year following the resignation Hossam El Badry.

2 May 2014
African Champions League 2014 - DR Congo rivals drawn together

TP Mazemebe, runners-up in last year's Confederation Cup, and AS Vita Club are fierce rivals

30 Apr 2014
African Confederation Cup 2014: play offs - 2nd leg - fixtures & results

Fixtures and results for the 2014 Confed Cup.
2013 champions: CS Sfaxien (Tunisia)

Winners advance to group stage

29 Apr 2014

2015 Africa Cup qualifiers - Mauritania go through to next round

Mauritana vs Mauritius 2:0

Mauritania qualifed for the next round of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers as they beat Mauritius 2:0, to win the tie 3:0 on aggregate. Demba Sow and Moulaye Ahmed Khalil were the scorers on a rainy day in Curepipe.

The visitors had the upper hand, having won their home leg 1:0, and dominated the game throughout with a host of chances.

Mauritius were grateful to their goalkeeper Aboo Bakar Augustin who made at least four crucial saves.

Augustin, though, could do nothing with Demba Sow's right foot firecracker from 20 yards after 38 minutes.

The Mourabitounes continued to dominate in the second half and got their reward on the stroke of full-time.
 
Despite a determined effort as well as the entrance of veteran Kersley Appou , Mauritius could not make an impact.
 
Mauritania's second goal came frrom Ahmed Moulaye Khalil after defender Bruno Ravina made a mess of the clearance, with Khalil scoring from close range.

Mauritania coach Patrice Neveu said the tactics he put in place paid off.

"We came to get the qualification and we knew we should not defend", he told BBC Sport.

"We attacked from the start and we got the dividends.

"We took this team of Mauritius seriously and they showed that they have the mental capabilities to come back.

"Our aim now is to go to the group stage of the qualifiers.

"We have a country and a team under construction, but a team who showed quality."

Mauritian coach Akbar Patel felt the first goal killed the game. 

"This goal came on a bad moment as we were planning to start the second half and put all our weight in the battle", Patel said. 

"I will maintain that we need to be playing more than one international game every six months in order to progress.

"But hats off to my players who in two weeks reached a level to challenge these players".

Mauritania, who have never reached the Africa Cup of Nations finals, will join 27 nations in the draw for the next stage which will be played next month.
 
Eventually seven countries will advance to join the 21 top-seeded sides in the group phase that will decide the qualifiers for the Nations Cup finals in Morocco next year.
 
21 Apr 2014
(BBC Sport, Curepipe by Yasine Mohabuth)

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