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

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

Olympic Games 2016 - Qualifiers - CAF U23 - 3rd round - 1st leg - all results

OLYMPIC GAMES 2016 Qualifiers
(2015 CAF U-23 Championship qualification)
3rd round / 1st leg

 

Gabon vs Mali 0:1
18 July 2015
15:30 UTC+1

Stade Augustin Monédan de Sibang, Libreville
Referee: Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo (Congo DR)

 

Ivory Coast vs Zambia 0:0
18 July 2015
15:00 UTC±0

Stade Robert Champroux, Abidjan
Referee: Boukari Ouedraogo (Burkina Faso)

 

Egypt vs Uganda 4:0  
19:15 UTC+2
18 July 2015

Borg El Arab Stadium, Alexandria
Referee: Hassan Mohamed Hagi (Somalia)

 

Nigeria vs Congo 2:1
16:00 UTC+1
19 July 2015

Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt
Referee: Anthony Ogwayo (Kenya)

 

Algeria vs Sierra Leone 2:0
19 July 2015
20:45 UTC+1

Stade Mustapha Tchaker, Blida
Referee: Wahid Tamuni Salah (Libya)

 

Zimbabwe vs South Africa 1:1
19 July 2015
15:00 UTC+2

Rufaro Stadium, Harare
Referee: Stanley Hachiwa (Zambia)

 

Morocco vs Tunisia 1:0
19 July 2015
18:00 UTC+1

Stade de FUS, Rabat
Referee: Fidel Gomes (Guinea-Bissau)

 

Congo coach Claude LeRoy wants to inflict further misery on Nigeria this weekend when he takes his side to Port Harcourt for a 2016 Olympic Games football qualifier.

The Red Devils stunned the Super Eagles 3:2 last year in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

It was the first home Nations Cup qualifying loss suffered by Nigeria and ultimately denied them a place at the finals and a chance to defend their title.

Now, the consistently successful 67-year-old Frenchman hopes to repeat at under-23 level what he achieved at senior level and edge Congo closer to Rio de Janeiro and a first Olympics football appearance.

"We are in an identical position to last year with no one beyond Congo giving us a chance," LeRoy said during a training camp in Atlantic city Pointe-Noire ahead of the third-round first-leg tie.

"But my team have a huge chance of not only eliminating Nigeria, but qualifying for the Rio Olympics.

"There is no reason why we should fear Nigeria.

Congolese football has made tremendous progress recently and we must maintain that improvement."

LeRoy can call on four of his senior squad for the third-round, first-leg clash - goalkeepers Christoffer Mafoumbi and Pavelh Ndzila, defender Sagesse Babele and striker Sylvere Ganvoula.

While Nigeria received first and second-round byes, Congo have already claimed a notable scalp in former Olympics football bronze medallists Ghana.

Both nations won 1:0 at home and Congo squeezed through after a penalty shootout at Stade Municipal in Pointe-Noire.

Nigeria boast a proud Olympics football record, winning the 1996 Atlanta gold medals after a thrilling final against Argentina and finishing runners-up to the same country at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Former star national team striker Samson Siasia coached the 'Dream Team' in China and will be in charge Sunday at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in south-east Nigeria.

He has called up Tottenham midfielder Musa Yahaya - nicknamed 'Iniesta' as his style resembles that of the Barcelona star - and Sweden-based goal-poacher Taiwo Owiniyi.

The striker got Nigeria out of jail this year in a 2015 All-Africa Games qualifier against Zambia, scoring both goals in a second-leg away triumph after the Dream Team were held at home.

South Africa, whose previous Olympics appearance was in Sydney 15 years ago, are upbeat ahead of a Harare showdown with neighbours Zimbabwe at Rufaro Stadium Sunday.

"This team has what it takes to go all the way to Rio," believes coach Owen da Gama. 

"The training camp is buzzing with excitement."

Uganda coach Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic says he is looking forward to proving Egyptian TV analysts wrong after they labelled his team a "punching bag".

The countries face off in Mediterranean city Alexandria Saturday and the stars on show should include two consistent goal scorers, Egyptian Mahmoud 'Kahraba' Abdel Moneim and Ugandan Farouk Miya.

Elsewhere, Gabon host Mali and Ivory Coast host Zambia on Saturday, while on Sunday Morocco host Tunisia and Algeria host Sierra Leone.

 

 

 

19 Jul 2015
(BBC Sport UK)

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