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 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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