NATIONAL TEAM - BENIN - COACH - Didier Olle-Nicolle appointed Benin coach

Frenchman Didier Olle-Nicolle has been appointed coach of Benin, replacing compatriot Manuel Amoros.

18 Mar 2014
NATIONAL TEAM - BENIN - COACH - Algerian Djamel Belmadi appointed Qatar coach

Algerian Djamel Belmadi has been installed as the new coach of Qatar's national team, the country's football association has revealed.  
 

17 Mar 2014
NATIONAL TEAM - Nigeria - Lukman Haruna hopeful over World Cup prospects

Dynamo Kiev midfielder Lukman Haruna hopes he can still make Nigeria's World Cup squad. The 23-year old has not played for the Super Eagles since the last World Cup in South Africa.

16 Mar 2014
FIFA rankings - Egypt makes big leap in latest rankings

Egypt have climbed up more places than any other African country in Fifa's latest world rankings for March.

14 Mar 2014
2014 World Cup - warm up - Ghana

Ghana Sports Minister Elvis Ankrah is confident the team will prepare in the right way for a successful World Cup.

12 Mar 2014
2014 World Cup - warm up - African sides ready

All five of Africa's World Cup finalists are in action this week as they continue their preparations for this summer's tournament in Brazil.
(Algeria; Cameroon; Ghana; Côte d'Ivoire; Nigeria)

5 Mar 2014

STARS IN EUROPE - NIGERIA - CLUB - Ighalo dismisses transfer speculation

Watford F.C. Odion Ighalo

 

In-form Nigeria international striker Odion Ighalo dismisses speculation linking him with a move away from Watford.

Odion Ighalo says he is not leaving Watford

Watford striker Odion Ighalo has dismissed speculation linking him with a move away from Vicarage Road.

The Nigeria international has scored 14 Premier League goals this season and, according to the Sun, has attracted interest from Atletico Madrid.  

"I want to finish the season strongly with Watford and prove that we have a good bunch of players here," the 26-year-old told BBC Sport.

"When the focus is on a strong finish, transfer talk will not get to you."

Ighalo, who joined the Hornets from Udinese in 2014, scored more goals in English league football than any other player in 2015.

And his tally of goals in the 2015-16 Premier League is bettered only by Leicester's Jamie Vardy and Romelu Lukaku of Everton.

"I haven't really bothered myself about statistics because I've always had my feet on the ground and I never forget where I come from," Ighalo said.

"I am just focused on getting better, doing things right on the pitch and being myself on the pitch."

Ighalo's goals have helped lift Watford to ninth in the Premier League on their return to the top flight.

"Watford are doing well at the moment because we have a fantastic team and not because of one particular player," said Ighalo, who has also had spells in Norway and Spain.

The Hornets were beaten 2:1 by Tottenham last time out and host Manchester City on Saturday (17:30 GMT).

"We didn't get the result we deserved against Tottenham but we want to put that right against Man City - that's what is in front of me right now," added Ighalo.

"It's a new year in front of our fans, I want to keep scoring for my team and fight hard alongside my team-mates."

 

 

2 Jan 2016
(BBC Sport by Oluwashina Okeleji)

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