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. 

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

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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. 

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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.

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club - coaches - Youssef resigns as Al Ahly coach

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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

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

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2013 champions: CS Sfaxien (Tunisia)

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29 Apr 2014

CAF accepts ruling to give Morocco 2017 Nations Cup place

AFRICA CUP 2015

 

The Confederation of African Football confirmed on Sunday that Morocco will be able to play in the qualifiers for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

In February CAF banned Morocco from the 2017 and 2019 events after the country did not host this year's finals.

But on Thursday the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned CAF’s ruling after Morocco appealed.

It means the north Africans will now be placed in the draw, which will be held on 8 April in Cairo.

CAF had initially been reluctant to confirm it would accept the decision of CAS but following a meeting of the African football governing body's executive committee it made a statement on its website  outlining its position.

"CAF, which joined the authority of the jurisdiction of CAS, has committed to implementing the decisions and will comply with this ruling despite the contradictions observed in the CAS decision," it said.

Morocco had been due to host the 2015 finals but the event was relocated to Equatorial Guinea at short notice after CAF rejected Morocco's request to postpone the tournament because of their fears over the outbreak of Ebola on the continent.

CAF barred Morocco from taking part at the relocated finals and also fined them US$1m (£675,000) and ordered to pay 8m euros (US$8.7m, £5.85m) in compensation.

CAS reduced the fine to US$50,000 (£34,000) and said the separate claim for damages "may be examined by another jurisdiction".

When asked about the decision by CAS relating to the financial penalties, Friday CAF’s director of communications Junior Binyam told BBC Sport Morocco "still have to pay the compensation".

 

 

7 Apr 2015
(BBC Sport UK)

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