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

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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

STARS IN EUROPE - BENIN - CLUB - Rudy Gestede sign for Aston Villa

ASTON VILLA

 

Aston Villa have completed the signings of Blackburn striker Rudy Gestede and Nantes midfielder Jordan Veretout.

Gestede, 26, and 22-year-old Veretout have both signed five-year deals for undisclosed fees.

Benin international Gestede scored 22 goals for Blackburn last season, including 20 in the Championship.

He becomes manager Tim Sherwood's ninth summer signing, while Veretout - who made 146 appearance for the French side - is the fourth recruit from Ligue 1.

Jordan Amavi of Nice, Idrissa Gueye from Lille and Lorient's Jordan Ayew have all joined from the French top flight, alongside deals for Micah Richards, Scott Sinclair, Mark Bunn and Jose Crespo.

Gestede started his career in France at Metz, before joining Cardiff, where he scored just nine goals in 63 games.

He went on to join Championship side Rovers, netting 34 goals in the last two seasons.

"I've known about Rudy since he was at Cardiff and he is a player I've always admired," said Sherwood. 

"His goalscoring ratio last season was fantastic and he is someone who certainly knows how to find the back of the net."

"I know Veretout is very highly rated over in France so we are delighted to get this deal over the line," Sherwood added. 

 

Rudy Gestede

 

 

2 Aug 2015
(BBC Sport UK)

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