Fernabahce suspension: Emenike, Yobo out of Europe till 2015

 Emenike was Nigeria’s highest goal scorer at the Nations Cup.  

After a celebrated move back to Turkey to rejoin Istanbul giants Fenerbahce, Emmanuel Emenike’s mega million move may have turned sour as he is now to miss out on top European action for the next two seasons.

Unless Emenike, Nigeria’s top striker and highest goal scorer in January’s African Cup of Nations, and compatriot, Joseph Yobo, move away from their current Turkish club they remain banned from European club competition till the 2015/16 football season.

Emenike was Nigeria’s top scorer at the last Africa Cup of Nations Cup in South Africa and was deeply missed at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil. Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, admitted after the competition that the Super Eagles would have done better if Emenike, who missed the competition to injury, had been part of the squad.

The now limited European action for the former Spartak Moscow of Russia forward may not augur well for the African champions who are seeking a berth at the Brazil 2014 World Cup where Emenike is one of the trusted legs to deliver the needed goals.

The European ban follows the final ruling delivered on Tuesday by the Court of Arbitration for Sport which dismissed Fenerbahce’s appeal against a two-year competition ban which had been imposed by UEFA.

Tuesday’s ruling means Fenerbahce remain expelled from the Europa League, which they would have taken part in this season after losing a Champions League qualifier to Arsenal. They are also barred from any European competition next season following a match-fixing case they were found guilty of in Turkey.

UEFA expelled Fenerbahce in June after judging that club officials helped fix matches to win the 2011 Turkish league title.

UEFA rules bar clubs which are implicated in fixing matches played since April 2007. The European football governing body however agreed to let Fenerbahce play Champions League matches pending Tuesday’s CAS verdict, with no further appeal available to the Turkish club.