2015 AFRICA CUP - ZAMBIA - KALABA TO LEAD NATIONAL TEAM

Zambia coach Honour Janza has given the captain's armband to Rainford Kalaba after naming his 23-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.

8 Jan 2015
2015 AFRICA CUP - GHANA - NO BOATENG OR MUNTARI IN SQUAD

Ghana's new coach Avram Grant has named his first Black Stars' squad with an initial list of 31 players for January's Africa Cup of Nations finals.

8 Jan 2015
2015 AFRICA CUP - CAMEROON - SONG MISSES OUT ON SQUAD AND QUITS DUTY

Cameroon and West Ham midfielder Alex Song has retired from international football after his exclusion from his country's Africa Cup of Nations squad.

7 Jan 2015
2015 AFRICA CUP - ALGERIA - ABEID AND BELKALEM OUT OF SQUAD

Algeria have confirmed that their Newcastle midfielder Mehdi Abeid and Trabzonspor defender Essaid Belkalem have been ruled out of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations because of injury.

6 Jan 2015
2015 AFRICA CUP - GABON - SOKAMBI REPLACES LEMINA

France Under-20 World Cup winner Mario Lemina, who declined a place in Gabon's 2015 Africa Cup of Nations squad, has been replaced by Bonaventure Sokambi.

5 Jan 2015
RISING STARS - CAMEROON - ONANA TO JOIN AJAX FROM BARCELONA

Barcelona youth goalkeeper Andre Onana has signed a pre-contract agreement to join Ajax in July, the Dutch champions announced on Saturday.

4 Jan 2015
2015 AFRICA CUP - GABON - DIDIER NDONG SIGNS FOR FRENCH SIDE FC LORIENT

The 20-year-old midfielder played with Tunisian outfit CS Sfaxien during the 2012-2013 season, and will represent Gabon in the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations.

3 Jan 2015
2015 AFRICA CUP - EQUATORIAL GUINEA - COACHES - BECKER EXPECTED TO BE THE NEW COACH

Africa Cup of Nations hosts Equatorial Guinea are set to appoint Esteban Becker to replace Andoni Goikoetxea.

2 Jan 2015
HAPPY NEW YEAR

ALL THE BEST FOR 2015

1 Jan 2015
2015 AFRICA CUP - MALI - MAIGA RECALLED TO SQUAD

Modibo Maiga has been named in Mali's 23-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Equatorial Guinea despite missing all their qualifiers.

31 Dec 2014

STARS IN EUROPE - NIGERIA - CLUB - Ujah rejects 'bigger offers' to join Werder Bremen

WERDER BREMEN Anthony Ujah

 

Nigeria international striker Anthony Ujah has revealed he turned down 'bigger financial offers' from Russia and China in order to secure his preferred move to Werder Bremen.

The 24-year old scored 36 goals in 102 appearances for German side Cologne to attract interest from an unnamed club in China who were set to triple his wages.

He also received big offers from two Russian clubs but Ujah opted for Werder Bremen to continue his development  in the German Bundesliga.

"I had two options, to follow the money or walk the steps of career development," Ujah told BBC Sport.

"I have big ambitions and going that route 'money over development' at this stage of my career could affect my progress."

Cologne were in the second tier when Ujah initially joined in 2012 from Mainz 05 before making the move permanent a year later.

He scored 13 league goals in his first season and 11 in the 2013/14 season to help the club secure a return to the top flight.

Ujah added 10 goals for Cologne last campaign to ensure another stay in the top flight before completing his switch to four-time Bundesliga champions Werder Bremen.

He admitted that it was the right time to leave Cologne and start afresh.

"After three years in Cologne I wanted a completely fresh challenge away from my comfort zone.

"Other clubs presented interesting offers as well but Werder Bremen fit into my ambition and desire.

"I joined a club on the way up with big plans."

The Super Eagle also revealed that Werder coach Viktor Skrypnyk played a massive role in his decision to move to the Weserstadion.

"When I spoke to the coach he surprised me by analysing my football, strength and how I fit into his plans," he explained.

"His exceptional interest to details and time spent to study my game gave me an extra motivation to want to repay him and hopefully move my game and career to the next level.

"Notable strikers like Claudio Pizarro, Ivan Klasnić, Miroslav Klose and others left from Bremen to bigger clubs and career, it's obviously a good path to follow."

Ujah, who was part of the Nigeria squad at the 2013 Fifa Confederations Cup in Brazil, has made five international appearances for his country.

Despite his omission from the 2014 World Cup squad and a recent 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, Ujah remains confident his club form will hopefully earn him a recall.

"There is a lot of talent in Nigeria - amazing players - and it's not an easy decision for the coach," he added.

"I am optimistic that if I continue to do well with my club I'll get another chance but right now I just want to get started with Bremen."

 

 

4 Jul 2015
(BBC Sport by Oluwashina Okeleji)

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