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 MLS - SIERRA LEONE - CLUB - Alhaji Kamara cleared to play

DC United Alhaji Kamara

 

Alhaji Kamara helped IFK Norrkoping win the Swedish championship in 2015

Sierra Leonean striker Alhaji Kamara has been given medical clearance to resume his career after heart tests and has signed for DC United in MLS.

The 22-year-old's former club IFK Norrkoping said he had a heart defect.

DC United's general manager Dave Kasper said: "The MLS cardiology consultant and a heart specialist at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital determined he could resume playing.

"Kamara will undergo testing at the end of each season."

The Sierra Leone international's move to DC United comes at a time when two Cameroonian players Patrick Ekeng and Jeanine Christelle Djomnang died of suspected heart problems.

Kasper added: "The player had a potential cardiac issue that could have eliminated him from playing. 

He was evaluated and found this was not the case.

"We went through proper medical testing and approvals from two top cardiology specialists.

"Certainly we went through a rigorous process, but once they cleared him to play, it gave us peace of mind."

A transfer fee has not been paid for Kamara but Norrköping will be compensated if the player meets performance incentives or if he is sold in the future.

He was originally examined as part of a UEFA requirement because IFK Norrkoping are due to take part in the qualifiers for next season's Champions League.

'He is a strong guy'

Experts from both UEFA and FIFA had advised Kamara against continuing playing football.

This initially forced Norrkoping to remove Kamara from their 2016 season squad to stop him from playing more matches.

Kamara, who scored six goals to help Norrköping win the 2015 Swedish league, is delighted that his career can resume.

"He is so happy and excited to be able to play again," Kamara's local agent Chernor Musa Jalloh told BBC Sport.

"Physically and mentally he is prepared and he knows everything as he is a strong guy.

"He went through a difficult path and thanks to everyone who supported him."

 

 

12 May 2016
(BBC Sport By Mohamed Fajah Barrie)

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