National teams Squad Stars in Europe
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. 

More
10 May 2014
Featured Legends
LEGENDS - ‪‪FRANCE - ‪Thierry Henry‬ - the top-scorer

Thierry Daniel Henry, born 17 August 1977, is a French footballer who plays as a striker for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer. In July 2008, Arsenal fans voted him as Arsenal's greatest player ever in Arsenal.com's Gunners' Greatest 50 Players poll. At Barcelona, Henry was given the number 14 jersey, the same as he had worn at Arsenal. 

More
8 May 2014
International Player National teams Squad World Cup 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.

More
7 May 2014
Featured FIFA 100 Key-Player Legends
LEGENDS - ‪‪FRANCE - Patrick Vieira‬‬

He has 107 caps for France, and was part of their 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000-winning sides, as well as their runner-up finish in the 2006 World Cup. Vieira is currently Football Development Executive at Manchester City with a role to oversee aspects such as youth development, commercial partners and the club's social responsibility programme, "City in the Community".

More
5 May 2014
Club Stars in Europe Transfers
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. 

More
4 May 2014
Coaches National teams
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.

More
3 May 2014
African Confederation Cup Club Coaches
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.

More
2 May 2014
African Champions League Club Featured Transfers
African Champions League 2014 - Katumbi wants European-style investment

He believes that such a boost in finances will also mean more African players staying to play on the continent. "We are trying to offer the best things that we have to our players - it's really tough in Africa to maintain a club," he said. "I think the day African players remain on the continent, then Africa can win the World Cup.

More
1 May 2014
African Champions League National League
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

More
30 Apr 2014
African Confederation Cup Fixtures+Results
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

More
29 Apr 2014
Africa Cup 2015 Qualifiers National teams Squad

2015 AFRICA CUP QUALIFIERS - GROUP STAGE - NIGERIA - 1ST MATCHES - PREVIEW

AFRICA CUP 2015 QUALIFIERS

Nigeria have named a 23-man squad for their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers despite not having a coach.

Sone Aluko wins his first call-up in more than two years for the matches against Congo on 6 September and South Africa four days later.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) picked the players as talks continue for Stephen Keshi to return as coach.

"It is right for us to alert the players and their clubs," NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire told BBC Sport.

"These are crucial games and qualifying for the African Cup of Nations is the focus right now because defending the African title starts in September with the qualifiers."

Monaco defender Elderson Echiejile, who missed the 2014 World Cup because of injury, and Nosa Igiebor, who missed the final cut for Brazil, have been recalled.

Germany-based Chinedu Obasi also returns but veteran duo Shola Ameobi and Peter Odemwingie have been omitted from the list, which also include five players from the local league.

The NFF are hoping to finalise talks with Keshi as soon as possible, according to board member Deji Tinubu.

Keshi and the NFF have been in negotiations since June but delays have been cause by problems the federation has faced, including the sacking and the Fifa-ordered reinstatement of the NFF president Aminu Maigari.

However, Keshi told BBC Sport he "cannot wait much longer", adding "it should only take the 24 hours or 48 hours to agree a contract, this is taking too much time".

 


SQUAD

 

Goalkeepers: 

Vincent Enyeama 
(Lille OSC, France)

Austin Ejide 
(Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Israel)

Chigozie Agbim 
(Gombe United)

 

Defenders: 

Elderson Echiejile 
(Monaco FC, France) 

Juwon Oshaniwa 
(Ashdod FC, Israel)

Efe Ambrose 
(Celtic FC, Scotland)

Godfrey Oboabona 
(Rizespor , Turkey)

Azubuike Egwuekwe 
(Warri Wolves)

Kenneth Omeruo 
(Middlesbrough, England)

Kunle Odunlami 
(Sunshine Stars)

 

Midfielders: 

John Mikel Obi 
(Chelsea FC, England)

Ogenyi Onazi 
(SS Lazio, Italy)

Ramon Azeez 
(Almeria FC, Spain)

Joel Obi 
(Inter Milan, Italy)

Nosa Igiebor 
(Real Betis, Spain)

Sone Aluko 
(Hull City, England)

 

Forwards: 

Ahmed Musa 
(CSKA Moscow, Russia)

Emmanuel Emenike 
(Fenerbahce, Turkey)

Chinedu Obasi 
(Schalke 04, Germany)

Uche Nwofor 
(Heerenveen, Netherlands)

Nnamdi Oduamadi 
(Crotone, Italy)

Gbolahan Salami 
(Warri Wolves)

Christian Osaguona 
(Enugu Rangers

 

20 Aug 2014
(BBC Sport by Oluwashina Okeleji)

Related countries
Nigeria

Related articles