by FSL News | 16 Jul, 2016 | African News
Moroccan defender, Medhi Benatia has joined Italian champions Juventus on a season-long loan from German champions Bayern Munich, the Italian football club announced on Friday.
Juventus, the Serie A champions, have paid $3.3m for the loan and have the choice to buy him for $18.8m next summer. This option must be exercised before 30 May 2017.
The 29-year-old returns to Italian football after his appearances at Udinese and Roma, whom he left for Bayern in 2014.
Benatia was born in France but opted to play for Morocco at international level and has now earned 42 caps.
The former Roma defender was a member of Morocco’s squad at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon and played in their first two matches of an eventual group stage exit, defeats to Tunisia and Gabon.
He also played in the following tournament in South Africa. The 6ft 3-inch defender played all three matches as they again were defeated at the first stage.
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by FSL News | 9 Jul, 2016 | African News
Leicester City have confirmed their fifth signing of the summer in the shape of CSKA Moscow forward Ahmed Musa, subject to international clearance.
The Nigerian signed a four-year contract for a club-record fee of around £16m.
The 23-year-old has expressed his delight at joining the side.
“I feel very happy joining Leicester City, for me it’s one of the best clubs and I feel very happy.
“I joined because it’s one of the best clubs in the Premier League and they are like a family,” he told LCFC.com.
He scored 13 goals in 30 league games for the Russian club last term.
Musa made his international debut against Madagascar in September 2010 and has scored 11 times in 58 appearances for the Super Eagles.
He scored twice in Nigeria’s 3-2 loss to Argentina at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, becoming the first Nigerian to score twice in a World Cup finals match.
Musa is the first Nigerian to score more than once in a FIFA World Cup match after scoring twice against Argentina in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
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by FSL News | 4 Jul, 2016 | African News
Leicester City have agreed a deal with CSKA Moscow for their Nigerian striker Ahmed Musa (pictured), according to reports
“He’ll be leaving on Tuesday for England,” CSKA Moscow coach Leonid Slutsky confirmed the news.
“If you look at the way things are done over there, you’ll see he is a player just made for English football.”
The Premier League Champions will sign the 23-year-old, from CSKA in the next coming days.
Musa joined CSKA in 2012 and scored 54 goals in 168 games for the Russian top flight side.
“Everything has been finalised and Musa will be in England for his medical on Wednesday,” Musa’s agent, Tony Harris, told BBC Sport.
Musa made his international debut against Madagascar in September 2010 and has scored 11 times in 58 appearances for the Super Eagles.
He scored twice in Nigeria’s 3-2 loss to Argentina at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, becoming the first Nigerian to score twice in a World Cup finals match.
Musa is the first Nigerian to score more than once in a FIFA World Cup match after scoring twice against Argentina in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
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by FSL News | 29 Jun, 2016 | African News
The Cameroon international was unveiled at a news conference on Wednesday where he said he is looking forward to getting going at his new club.
The 26-year-old signed a four-year deal with French Ligue 1 side Lyon after his contract with Lyon’s French rivals Marseille came to an end at the end of the season.
He passed a medical examination Monday evening and joins the club on a contract until June 2020.
Nkoulou vehemently admitted that he has also held discussions with Italian Serie A side Roma.
“I spent five good years at OM, I was out of contract and it was time to turn the page.”
“I come with a lot of ambition and pride. I’m here because Lyon will allow me to grow and move forward
“Five years ago I chose Marseille rather than Lyon because of [the then coach] Didier Deschamps – but now destiny wants our paths to cross again and that’s important.
“I need to feel loved and wanted and that’s the case here in Lyon.”
Last season, Nkoulou made 38 appearances for Marseille en route to a less-than-satisfactory 13th-place finish in the 2015-16 Ligue 1 season.
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by FSL News | 24 Jun, 2016 | African News, Sport News
The road to Russia: Africa’s final steps to FIFA World Cup will see Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Indomitable Lions battle for a spot following the draw for the continent’s third round of Russia 2018 qualifiers that took place in Egypt.
Three-time African champions, Nigeria, have been given an uphill task with the composition of their group.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles are drawn in Group B, which comprises Zambia, Cameroon and the highest ranked African team, Algeria.
Only the winners of the five groups of four teams will be representing Africa at the tournament in Russia.
Meanwhile, Former Ivory Coast boss, Herve Renard will face Ivory Coast. His side Morocco will come up against the side he helped to make African champions last year. the other are Gabon and Mali.
All twenty participants will now play each other home and away on a round-robin basis, with all five group winners qualifying automatically for Russia 2018.
Matches will take place between October 2016 and November 2017.
Group A
Tunisia, Libya, DR Congo, Guinea
Group B
Zambia, Cameroon, Algeria, Nigeria
Group C
Gabon, Mali, Ivory Coast, Morocco
Group D
Senegal, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde
Group E
Ghana, Egypt, Congo, Uganda
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by FSL News | 22 Jun, 2016 | African News, International, National Sport News Sierra Leone
Sierra Stars pictured out of AFCON U-17 Qualifiers
Football Sierra Leone UK has been informed by the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) of their withdrawal from the 12th edition of the African Cup of Nations U-17 qualifiers.
The next year’s continental championships slated to be hosted in Madagascar will run from 2 – 16 April 2017.
The Sierra Stars were supposed to face Benin away at the Stade de l’Amitié de Kouhounou, Cotonou this Sunday, June 26, 2016, in the first leg of the U-17 continental qualifiers with return fixture on July 1.
“We pulled out on Monday due to lack of funds and we have already informed CAF and Benin about that..” The Head of SLFA’s media Abubakarr Kamara told www.footballsierraleone.net.
The SLFA could face fine and Sierra Stars face suspension from the 13th edition of U-17 qualifiers.
Sierra Leone joined five other nations that have already withdrawn from the competition; they are Malawi, DR Congo, Liberia, Mauritius, and Zimbabwe.
Benin U-17 side will automatically qualify to the Second Round of the qualifiers following the withdrawal of Sierra Leone.
Madagascar’s 2017 Africa U-17 biennial international youth football tournament is the 12th edition – organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for players aged 17 and below.
Mali won the 2015 tournament for the first time in their history defeating a stubborn South African side, Amajimbos 2-0 in a thrilling final at the Stade General Seyni Kountche in Niamey, Niger.
The top four finalists from the tournament will represent Africa in the 2017 FIFA World Cup in India.
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