FIFA rankings - Egypt makes big leap in latest rankings

Egypt have climbed up more places than any other African country in Fifa's latest world rankings for March.

14 Mar 2014
2014 World Cup - warm up - Ghana

Ghana Sports Minister Elvis Ankrah is confident the team will prepare in the right way for a successful World Cup.

12 Mar 2014
2014 World Cup - warm up - African sides ready

All five of Africa's World Cup finalists are in action this week as they continue their preparations for this summer's tournament in Brazil.
(Algeria; Cameroon; Ghana; Côte d'Ivoire; Nigeria)

5 Mar 2014
stars in Europe - Yaya Toure's incredible journey

He won the Champions League and two La Liga titles while with Barca. Toure also won league titles in Greece and England, and domestic cups in each country too. According to the people who know him best, Yaya Toure always had the ability and ambition he needed to make his journey from a barefooted boy footballer to one of the best players in the world. 

22 Feb 2014
stars in Europe - AC Milan set to sign Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien

Chelsea have agreed a deal with AC Milan to sell midfielder Michael Essien to the Italian side. Essien has flown in for talks and a medical with Clarence Seedorf's underachieving Serie A club.

25 Jan 2014
NATIONAL LEAGUE - TUNISIA - COACH - Ruud Krol appointed as new Esperance coach

The 64-year-old former Dutch World Cup captain joined the Tunisian side only a day after leading CS Sfaxien to glory in the Confederation Cup with a 3:2 aggregate win over TP Mazembe. Krol's departure ends a successful year at the club in which he also led the Tunisians to a first league title in eight years in May. "It was my decision to leave. 

20 Jan 2014

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)

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