NATIONAL TEAM - ZAMBIA - COACH - Beaumelle steps down

He looks set to join up once again with Herve Renard, who was appointed coach of Ivory Coast last week.

6 Aug 2014
NATIONAL TEAM - KENYA - COACH - Williamson appointed as new coach

Williamson replaces Adel Amrouche, who departed after Kenya's shock elimination from the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The Harambee Stars were knocked out 1:0 on aggregate by Lesotho on Sunday.

6 Aug 2014
2015 AFRICA CUP QUALIFIERs - 2ND ROUND- 2ND LEG - ALL RESULTS

• Malawi vs Benin 1:0 (0:1)
• Rwanda vs Congo 2:0 (0:2)
• Guinea-Bissau vs Botswana 1:1 (0:2)
Sunday:
• Mozambique vs Tanzania 2:1 (2:2)
• Kenya vs Lesotho 0:0 (0:1)
• Mauritania vs Uganda 0:1 (0:2)

4 Aug 2014
NATIONAL TEAM - NIGERIA - COACH - Stephen Keshi close to new deal

The 52-year-old led Nigeria to their third African title in 2013 and the last 16 at the World Cup in Brazil but his deal was allowed to expire.

4 Aug 2014
COACHES - IVORY COAST - Herve Renard appointed Ivory Coast boss

Frenchman Herve Renard has been appointed coach of Ivory Coast. The 45-year-old had two spells as Zambia coach and led them to the Africa Cup of Nations title in 2012.

3 Aug 2014
TRANSFER - Nigeria - Striker Imoh Ezekiel joins Qatari side Al-Arabi SC

"Being with Standard has filled me with good memories and I cannot thank the club enough," Ezekiel said in an emotional video message to Standard TV.

3 Aug 2014
2015 AFRICA CUP QUALIFIER - 2ND ROUND- 2ND LEG - RESULTS SO FAR

Saturday
Malawi vs Benin 1:0 (Agg: 1:1)
Rwanda vs Congo 2:0 (Agg 2:2)
Guinea-Bissau vs Botswana 1:1 (Agg: 1:3)

2 Aug 2014
2015 AFRICA CUP QUALIFIER - 2ND ROUND- 2ND LEG - PREVIEW

Saturday:
• Malawi vs Benin -:- (0:1)
• Rwanda vs Congo -:- (0:2)
• Guinea-Bissau vs Botswana -:- (0:2)
• Mauritania vs Uganda -:- (0:2)
Sunday:
• Mozambique vs Tanzania -:- (2:2)
• Kenya vs Lesotho -:- (0:1)

1 Aug 2014
2015 AFRICA CUP QUALIFIERS - GROUP STAGE - TOGO - 1ST MATCHES - PREVIEW - Emmanuel Adebayor

The Tottenham Hotspur striker, 30, refused call-ups for World Cup qualifiers last year following a spat with then coach Didier Six after the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

1 Aug 2014
TRANSFER - ALGERIA - GOALKEEPER Rais Mbolhi joins Philadelphia Union

The French-born 28-year-old impressed during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil where Algeria reached the last 16.

The African side were beaten 2:1 by Germany after extra-time but Mbolhi was named man of the match following a series of fine saves.

31 Jul 2014

STARS IN EUROPE - IVORY COAST - CLUB - COACH - Max Gradel explains Toulouse loan move

FC Toulouse Max GradelEmbed from Getty Images

 

Max Gradel says he was worried his international future with Ivory Coast would be affected with lack of playing time at Bournemouth

Ivory Coast international Max Gradel has insisted his loan move to Toulouse was not prompted by a falling out with Bournemouth.

Gradel did not start a Premier League game for Bournemouth last season and is now at the French club until the end of the season.

The 29-year-old is relishing playing regularly and a return to France.

"I understand the French league and coming back here was not a difficult decision," Gradel told BBC Sport.

"There was no problems or whatsoever with Bournemouth, but the chance to play regular football was too good an opportunity to turn down,

"Even though it's tough when you are not getting regular football, but I always enjoyed support from everyone connected to the club."

The former Leeds United player joined the Bournemouth from French side St Etienne in 2015 and signed a new four-year contract the following year.

Despite a lack for regular playing time for Bournemouth he was part of the Ivory Coast squad at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.

The winger, who has scored eight goals in 50 appearances for his country, felt his lack of opportunities was going to affect his international career.

"There's personal desire play regularly for club and country this season, considering the World Cup qualifiers throws up a big competition for places," he added.

"So my decision to go out on loan is based purely on football and ambition.

You have to make a strong case for yourself by playing regularly wherever you are.

"It's what's best for me and my career because I want to help my country qualify for Russia and play in the World Cup."

Gradel played in all three of Ivory Coast's games at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon as the defending champions failed to get past the group stages.

He has played in four African Cup of Nations tournaments with the Ivory Coast and was a member of the 2015 title-winning squad in Equatorial Guinea.

 

 

18 Aug 2017
(BBC Sport by Oluwashina Okeleji)

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