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 - CAF - Platini wants apology

AFRICA CUP 2015

UEFA president Michel Platini is demanding an apology after the Confederation of African Football criticised him for comments on the staging of the Africa Cup of Nations.

CAF accused Platini of "treacherously" interfering after he discussed the impact of the Ebola crisis on the tournament in a TV broadcast.

But the UEFA president insists his comments have been misinterpreted.

CAF says an apology to Platini will not be forthcoming.

The Nations Cup is due to be held in Morocco from 17 January to 8 February, but the host nation have said they wish to postpone the tournament.

Around 4,500 people have died since the Ebola epidemic broke out in west Africa at the start of the year.

CAF issued a strongly worded statement on Tuesday criticising the UEFA president, who they claimed had suggested in the interview that the tournament be postponed - a claim Platini denies.

The confederation stated it did not "intend to let anyone interfere in the management of its affairs".

But Platini responded in a letter to the CAF president Issa Hayatou saying he was deeply upset by the accusations, and demanded a formal apology.

The letter also included a transcript of the interview.

"At no point did I interfere in any way in the affairs of the CAF, and at no point did I call for or support the postponement of the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations," Platini wrote.

"It is for Mr Hayatou to decide on the question of postponement.

"Public health has to take priority, but it is up to them to decide what to do."

CAF has stated it has no intention of changing the dates and has since approached Ghana, South Africa and up to five other countries about their willingness to host the event should Morocco withdraw.

The confederation is due to meet Moroccan officials on 3 November to discuss the hosting of the tournament.

 

23 Oct 2014
(BBC Sport UK)

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