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

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

STARS IN EUROPE - CAMEROON - CLUB - Benjamin Moukandjo delighted with Lorient move

FC LORIENT BENJAMIN MOUKANDJO

 

Cameroon forward Benjamin Moukandjo is aiming for success with Lorient after joining the French club on a two-year deal from rivals Reims.

The 26-year-old, who has been in French football since 2007, joins alongside Ghana striker Abdul Majeed Waris.

After stints at Rennes, Monaco and Nancy, Moukandjo believes he has joined the right club at the right time.

"I'm delighted to be here at Lorient and to join an ambitious club," he told BBC Sport.

"I have been in this league for sometime now and at 26 this club provides my career with the ideal stability and challenge.

"I'm not lowering my standards but taking on a great challenge. I have high standards and I aim to achieve success with Lorient."

Lorient only just escaped relegation last season, finishing 16th on 43 points.

But Moukandjo says the chance to work with the club president Loïc Fery and manager Sylvain Ripoll was a big influence on his decision to join the Brittany club.

"When I spoke to the people in charge I could see the club is heading in the right direction," he added.

"I realise they are eager to fix the lessons from a difficult season and there is a solid foundation for this season's realistic ambition and beyond.

"It wasn't difficult to make up my mind to come here.

I received unbelievable offers from Asia but I prefer to continue my progress in this league and with Lorient.

"It's easy to be tempted by big money but I was not going to sacrifice my progress and development for that."

Moukandjo made his international debut for four-time African champions Cameroon against Senegal in June 2011.

An integral member of the Indomitable Lions, he started all three group matches against Mexico, Croatia and Brazil at the 2014 World Cup.

At the 2015 African Cup of Nations, when Cameroon were knocked out at the group stage, he scored in a 1:1 draw with Guinea.

 

 

9 Aug 2015
(BBC Sport, Lagos by Oluwashina Okeleji)

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