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

African Champions League 2016 - group stage - 2nd matches - preview

African Champions League 2016
Group Stage
2nd matches

Group A
28/06/16: Al Ahly vs ASEC -:-
29/06/16: Wydad vs Zesco -:-

Group B
29/06/16: Mamelodi Sundowns vs Enyimba -:-
29/06/16: Zamalek vs Entente Setif -:-


Egypt's Al Ahly are looking to win a ninth African Champions title

Al Ahly have postponed celebrating winning the Egyptian league as they turn their attention to the African Champions League.

They host Ivorian club Asec Mimosas on Tuesday in a crucial fixture that comes after both sides lost their opening Group A games.

Ahly regained the league title they lost to rivals Zamalek last season with a win at Ismaili on Sunday.

"Time will be found later to celebrate our league success," Ahly's football director Sayed Abdel Hafeez said.

"There are two more titles in our sights, the CAF Champions League and the Egypt Cup.

"It is our destiny to try and win every competition we are involved in."

Ahly have been African champions a record eight times, most recently in 2013 when they defeated South African opponents Orlando Pirates 3:1 over two legs.

ASEC can boast of just one Champions League title, beating Zimbabwe's Dynamos 4:2 overall in 1998.

A brace from Ghanaian John Antwi could not prevent Ahly losing 3:2 away to Zesco United of Zambia earlier this month.

While ASEC lost 1:0 at home to Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, who eliminated defending champions TP Mazembe of the DR Congo.

Wydad host Zesco on Wednesday in a match that is set to finish around midnight owing to the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, during which eating and drinking is forbidden from dawn to dusk.

Footballers can be excused, but most observe the fast, leading to late kick-offs of CAF matches in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt.

Zesco have been the surprise side of the 2016 competition, winning five of six qualifiers before a Cletus Chama brace helped upset Ahly.

Chama and DR Congo-born Idris Mbombo have scored four continental goals each while Wydad sharpshooter Reda Hajhouj has notched six.

The top-scorer so far this season is Mfon Udoh of Nigerian club Enyimba, who are in South Africa to face Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday.

It is the only Group B fixture this week after Algerian side Entente Setif were disqualified last week due to crowd problems.

Sundowns won 2:0 at Setif only for the match to be declared "null and void" because of a pitch invasion by fans.

The South African champions will be without their captain Ramahlwe Mphhahlele after he signed for their local rivals Kaizer Chiefs on Monday.

Enyimba were surprise 1:0 losers at home to Zamalek of Egypt, who have a rest day for this round of matches.

 

 

28 Jun 2016
(BBC Sport UK)

Related articles