AFRICA CUP 2017 QUALIFIERS - this weekend

Seeded sides set for winning starts.

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STARS IN EUROPE - MOROCCO - CLUB - Taarabt leaves QPR for Benfica

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13 Jun 2015
RISING STARS - CONGO DR - Lukoki set for emotional return to birthplace

Jody Lukoki was just 12 months old when his family left Congo DR.

13 Jun 2015
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12 Jun 2015
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Mali stunned Ghana, while Senegal beat Ukraine on penalties.

11 Jun 2015
STARS IN EUROPE - GHANA - CLUB - Swansea sign Andre Ayew

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11 Jun 2015
NATIONAL TEAM - LIBERIA - George Weah junior gets call-up for 2017 qualifier

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10 Jun 2015
NATIONAL TEAM - NIGERIA - STARS IN EUROPE - Enyeama

Nigeria captain Vincent Enyeama hopes to bow out on a high.

9 Jun 2015

NATIONAL TEAM - CONGO DR - KIDIABA TO END INTERNATIONAL CAREER AFTER 2015 NATIONS CUP

AFRICA CUP 2015 AFRICA CUP 2015 QUALIFIERS

But the 38-year-old TP Mazembe player who made his debut in 2002 and has gone on to win 52 caps wants to leave on a high.

The veteran, who played at the 2013 tournament in South Africa, believes the Leopards must aim for the latter stages of Africa's top competition. 

DR Congo are drawn in Group B alongside Tunisia, Zambia and Cape Verde.

"The year 2015 is when I have to end my international career with DR Congo and it's an opportunity not to be missed," Kidiaba told TP Mazembe's official website  .

"As captain of the national team, I want to help my country reach a respectable spot beyond our group in Equatorial Guinea."

Despite failing to go beyond the group stage in 2004 and 2013, Kidiaba insists reaching the last eight must be a target for Florent Ibengé's side this term.

"There is no small country in our group but we need to aim higher as a team." he added.

"We must take Cape Verde seriously because they are organised and have proved to everyone that they must be respected.

"As former champions Tunisia are very formidable but we have also shown during the qualifiers that we cannot be underestimated.

"The game that TP Mazembe fans are looking forward to is the opening game against Zambia because Rainford Kalaba and Given Singuluma are well known in Lubumbashi and throughout the country."

Kidiaba, famed for the 'bum shuffle' goal celebration - by bouncing around his penalty area - on his backside, helped DR Congo side TP Mazembe achieve back to back African Champions League titles in 2009 and 2010.

The goalkeeper who joined Mazembe in 2002 from AS Saint-Luc attained global recognition at the 2009 and 2010 Fifa Club World Cups in the UAE with his unique goal celebration.

With his heroics between the sticks in 2010, Mazembe became the first African team to reach the Club World Cup final but lost to Italian giants Inter Milan.

Kidiaba has two CAF Super Cup titles and won seven national league titles with Mazembe in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

7 Dec 2014
(BBC Sport by Oluwashina Okeleji)

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