African Football: January 2013

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Besiktas complete signing of Senegalese Mamadou Niang

Turkish side Beşiktaş have completed the signing of Al-Sadd striker Mamadou Niang on a loan deal which will see him remain at the Istanbul club until the end of the season.

No Fenerbahce deal for Younès Belhanda

Turkish side Fenerbahce have ended their interest in Moroccan playmaker Younès Belhanda.

Ivorian Didier Drogba's Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua have expressed outrage over his move to Turkish side Galatasaray, saying it breaches his current contract and he is still their player.

Nigeria midfielder Yusuf Ayila has joined Turkish club Orduspor on loan until the end of the season.

Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi is confident Nigeria can beat favourites Ivory Coast in their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final clash on Sunday.

Highlights: Nigeria beat Ethiopia to secure quarter-final place

Nigeria secured their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final place in Rustenburg after late penalties from Victor Moses saved them from an embarrassing exit against Ethiopia.

Ahmed Musa dropped and top goalscorer during the qualifiers Ikechukwu Uche starts for Nigeria.

Nigeria coach Keshi has Ethiopia game to save his job

Stephen Keshi is on the brink as the fallout from Nigeria’s faltering start at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations continues.

Turkish side Galatasaray have announced the signing of Ivorian striker Didier Drogba from Shanghai Shenhua on a one-and-a-half-year contract.

West Brom have rejected a second, improved offer from QPR for their Nigeria striker Peter Odemwingie.

Dynamo Kiev anxious to find buyer for Nigeria midfielder Yusuf Ayila

Dynamo Kiev president Igor Surkis will attempt to find a buyer for Nigeria midfielder Yusuf Ayila and two others after they were demoted to the reserves.

Battle for equal treatment, fairness and frustrating draw against Burkina Faso and Zambia is tearing Nigeria's Super Eagles apart in South Africa.

In case of equality of points between two or more teams, at the conclusion of the group matches, the ranking of the teams shall be established according to the following criteria:

Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene scored a controversial late penalty as Chipolopolo came from behind to draw 1-1 with Nigeria in Group C of the African Cup of Nations.

EXCLUSIVE: Yobo OUT, Moses IN Nigeria squad to face Zambia

Nigeria are without captain Joseph Yobo for their Group C game against Zambia in Nelspruit.

The agent of Nigerian Taye Taiwo is fielding fresh Turkish, Premier League and French interest for the AC Milan defender.

Fenerbahce keen to bring Emenike back to Istanbul

Turkish side Fenerbahce have opened the door for Emmanuel Emenike to make a sensational return to Istanbul, almost two years after selling him to Spartak Moscow for €10million.

The 25-year-old left Fenerbahce without playing a match for them after only joining from Karabukspor at the end of the 2010/11 season.

But his stay in Russia has not been devoid of controversies just like he had it in Turkey following an allegation of match-fixing leveled against him.

"Yes, he has been approached by Fenerbahce and they desperately want him back," a source close to the striker said.

"They've been calling him from December and now he's had to change his number twice in South Africa.

"They know he's not enjoying life in Russia because of the weather and attitude of opposing fans.

"Fenerbahce are seriously looking at a way of bringing him back now or in the summer."

Emenike was fined $17,000 for an obscene gesture towards fans of Dynamo Moscow during a Russian Premier League derby in March 2012.

The player told this blog last month that: 'I'm committed to my contract with Spartak Moscow' but that has not deterred the Turkish giants.

He scored when ten-man Nigeria were held to a 1-1 draw by Burkina Faso in their opening Group C match at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Victor Moses boost for Nigeria

Nigeria have been handed a boost with the news that injured Victor Moses is fit and ready to face Zambia in the 2013 African Cup of Nations on Friday.

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has dismissed reports that an emergency meeting was called after the Nations Cup opening day draw against Burkina Faso.

Montpellier president Louis Nicolin has hit out at Fenerbahce target Younes Belhanda

Montpellier president Louis Nicollin has launched a scathing attack on Moroccan Younes Belhanda, as he look set to leave the club this month.

Ten-man Nigeria were held to a 1-1 draw as Burkina Faso scored with the last kick of their opening Group C match at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Vuvuzelas fly as Ethiopia holds champion Zambia

Ten-man Ethiopia celebrated its return to the African Cup of Nations by holding defending champion Zambia to a 1-1 draw in a Group C opener that featured a missed penalty and vuvuzelas thrown onto the field.

Nigeria vs Burkina Faso preview

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has a full strength squad to choose from as they begin their 2013 Africa Cup of Nations campaign against Burkina Faso in Nelspruit on Monday.

A late goal from captain Seydou Keita gave Mali victory over Niger and the first win of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

DR Congo came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Ghana in their African Cup of Nations opener on Sunday in Port Elizabeth.

Turkish clubs eyeing a move for Kolo Toure

Ivorian Kole Toure insists he is ready to see out the final months of his contract at Manchester City after rejecting a move to Turkish clubs Galatasaray and Bursaspor last summer.

Nigeria have included six locally-based players in their final 23-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa - the greatest number in more than two decades. Is that good enough?

Montpellier insist they will only let reported Fenerbahce target Younes Belhanda leave for the right price.

Former Barcelona star Samuel Eto’o has been keeping himself busy in Russia creating a comic book.

Gabon's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang set to leave St Etienne in the summer

Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang claims to be a target for Premier League clubs, but says he will not be moving until the summer.

Angola travelled without a goalkeeper coach for the Afcon. Ejide is back for Nigeria and Asamoah is desperate to bury his stormy relationship with the Black Stars.

QPR midfielder Adel Taarabt is in hot water with the Morocco FA.

Arsenal set to sign Senegalese Diame, Chelsea keen on Mbia, No China exit for Katongo and Drogba is still on Juventus radar.

Spurs and Fenerbahce target Younes Belhanda is fit to play for Morocco in the African Cup of Nations after his thigh injury was confirmed as not serious.