SOCCER AFRICA: BBC World Service On Air Now: 23:50-23:59 GMT Sporting Witness BBC African Footballer of the Year 2011

The Nominees: Read the profiles of the five players

Dede Ayew
Plays for Ghana and French club Marseille
Samuel Eto'o
Plays for Cameroon and Anzhi Makhachkala in Russia
Gervinho
Plays for Ivory Coast and English team Arsenal
- Seydou Keita
  Plays for Mali and European champions Barcelona
- Yaya Toure
  Plays for Ivory Coast and English team Manchester City
  
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  Friday, 18 November 2011
  - 19:21
    Rio Mavuba insists Lille are missing 'super' Gervinho after his move to Arsenal
    The France international admits that the departure of the Ivory Coast winger has hurt the Ligue 1 club, hailing the 24-year-old as a "wonderfully efficient" footballer
  - 18:03
    Samuel Eto’o, Kevin-Prince Boateng & the 10 nominees for the African Player of the Year award
    Goal.com profiles the 10 stars who have the opportunity to be crowned the continents top player in 2011
  Thursday, 17 November 2011
  - 11:27
    Barcelona to meet Al Sadd or Esperance in semi-finals of Club World Cup
    The Champions League holders know that their opponents in December's tournament will either come from Asia or from Africa, having avoided Neymar's Santos until the potential final
  Wednesday, 16 November 2011
- 16:28
  Chelsea’s Didier Drogba targets African Cup of Nations success with Ivory Coast
  The prolific striker is looking to his country go far in the continental competition, and has also reflected on his ambassador role in the reconciliation committee of his nation
- 12:21
  Sublime Suarez, disappointing Dzeko & brilliant Balotelli - how the Premier League's stars performed on international duty
  Goal.com assesses how the players from England's top flight performed while on international duty in the various qualifiers, play-offs and friendlies around the globe
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Chelsea striker Didier Drogba back in training ahead of Liverpool meeting - report
Ivorian forward has not featured since being sent off against Queens Park Rangers in October, but could return to the side for the Blues' crunch clash at Stamford Bridge on Sunday

For all the latest reports and transfer rumours, visit our dedicated section here.
Didier Drogba has returned to training this week ahead of Chelsea's meeting with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, according to reports.
Chelsea forward Didier Drogba rejects Anzhi Makhachkala - report

Ivorian apparently turned down lucrative offer to join the Russian side and would prefer to end his career at Stamford Bridge despite the Blues' unwillingness to offer a long deal
Chamakh vows to stay at Arsenal despite Bordeaux interest

Marouane Chamakh

Morocco striker Marouane Chamakh hinted on Thursday he wanted to stay at Arsenal despite his struggle to settle at the Emirates and interest from his former club to get him back.

Girondins Bordeaux said on Tuesday they were keen to re-sign Chamakh, who left in 2010 to join Arsenal, but the player is happy in London.

"I haven't played as much, what with (Robin) Van Persie coming back from injury, but for me, it's been a settling in period," Chamakh, who scored seven goals from 29 Premier League appearances last season, told Arsenal's website (www.arsenal.com).

"It's been good to play for a club like Arsenal and getting used to the league, but I'm trying to learn, enjoy it and long may it continue."

Chamakh has made just one start so far this term.

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Ba hat-trick lifts Newcastle to third

Newcastle United's Demba Ba (R) challenges Tottenham Hotspur's Kyle Walker

Demba Ba scored a hat-trick as Newcastle United continued their impressive start to the season with a deserved 3-1 win at Stoke City in the Premier League on Monday.

Newcastle, among the pre-season favourites for relegation, climbed to third place in the table and remain unbeaten after 10 matches.

French-born Senegalese striker Ba headed home Gabriel Obertan's teasing cross from close range after 12 minutes and he doubled the away side's lead with another neat finish five minutes before halftime.

Ba gave away a penalty with a clumsy foul on Peter Crouch and Jon Walters converted the spot-kick to give Stoke hope with 15 minutes remaining.

Ba, however, quickly made amends when he coolly dispatched a penalty, his eighth goal of the season, after Robert Huth was adjudged to have shoved Leon Best in the area.

"I'm a bit disappointed that we didn't play the way we should have in the second half but we defended well and you don't get to 22 points without showing different sides to your game," Newcastle manager Alan Pardew told Sky Sports.

"All the big sides have been here and not won so that just shows how good Stoke are. They are a top team and will finish top 10."

Newcastle climbed above Chelsea into third place, one point behind Manchester United and six adrift of leaders Manchester City. Stoke remained 11th in the standings.
Arsenal reserve Armand Traore is in line for his competitive international debut for Senegal after being named in the squad for their African Nations Cup qualifier against the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sept. 3.

Traore, a former French under-21 international fullback whom the London club loaned to Juventus last season, won his first cap for Senegal in a friendly against Morocco on Aug. 10.

Senegal coach Amara Traore, who will have to sit in the stands after being sent off in their last qualifier, made no changes to his squad from the August friendly which Senegal lost 2-0.

The 24-man selection excludes the Turkish-based Issiar Dia and Mamadou Niang, both suspended for the game after being red carded in the last qualifier.

If Senegal beat the Congolese in Dakar they will secure top place in Group E and qualify for the 2012 finals, having missed out on the 2010 tournament in Angola.
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Striking Cameroon players forced the abandonment of a friendly in Algeria on Tuesday, refusing to play after not being paid an appearance fee for two internationals at the weekend.

"This postponement is as a result of an internal administrative problem in the Cameroon national team," the Algerian Football Federation said in a brief statement.

"FAF deplores this unacceptable and unsporting situation," hinting it would seek compensation for lost costs.

A statement from Cameroon's players said they had not received money promised for their appearance in a four-nation tournament in Morocco at the weekend, where they played on Friday against Sudan and on Sunday against the host nation.

"We have decided not to make the trip to Algiers and call on the authorities in Cameroon to keep to their agreements," a statement signed by the players and published on the www.camfoot.com website said.

"The problem of the fees was raised a week ago and no solution found. The team played with commitment and professionalism in Marrakech but have decided not to go to Algeria."

They took their action after Sunday's match against Morocco in Marrakech, where captain Samuel Eto'o first told reporters of the squad's intention.

Several meetings between Cameroon federation officials and players, plus reports of the arrival of cash to pay the players, followed but they failed to solve the situation.

It is the second game between top African sides that has been cancelled this week after Ivory Coast pulled out of their friendly with Senegal in Paris on Tuesday because of travel problems.

Algeria will play a match between their squad members in place of the clash with Cameroon and allow free entry to spectators, the federation said.

Disputes over money and threats of strikes are common in African football but rarely are matches called off because of payment disputes.