Nigerian football will have to co-host the Cup of Nations with a new chief at the helm, after Anthony Kojo Williams was sacked on Monday.

The new interim head of the Nigerian Football Association, Brigadier General Dominic Oneya (retired), is a former governor of Kano and Benue states.

The NFA board passed a vote of no confidence in Mr Williams, and a board member Zaria Sani said that the chairman had failed to win the board's approval on a series of decisions.

"We have to remove Mr Williams because he has failed to carry the other board members along", he said.

Mr Williams, who was appointed just three months ago, refused to comment on his dismissal.

He disagreed with the appointment of the new national team manager, preferring former Super Eagles coach, Dutchman Clemens Westerhof.

The Sports Ministry insisted on his compatriot Jo Bonfrere - and won the argument.

Kanu scoops BBC award

The Nigeria and Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu has been voted the African Sports Personality of the Year by listeners of the BBC.

Kanu, who was also recently voted African Player of the Year, polled more than double the number of votes received by his nearest rival, Samuel Osei Kuffour of Ghana and Bayern Munich.

Past winners of the BBC award include George Weah of Liberia and Chelsea, Abedi Pele of Ghana, Frankie Fredericks of Namibia and Haile Gebreselassie of Ethiopia.

Preparations

Burkina Faso and the Democratic Republic of Congo have been wrapping up their preparations with matches against local club sides in the Republic of Benin.

Burkina Faso came from behind to beat Atlantic Sharks 3-1 and DR Congo beat Dragons Oueme 2-0.

But it appears the DR Congo will be missing their England-based star, Michel Ngonge.

Although Ngonge played last weekend for English Premiership side, Watford, as a substitute, the club say he is reluctant to travel, as his wife is expecting a baby imminently.

The club also said no official approach had been made to Watford by the Congolese football authorities and Ngonge himself had been the one liaising with Kinshasa.

Meanwhile, South Africa's Bafana Bafana completed their preparations with an 8-0 drubbing of lower division side Arcadia Shepherds in Pretoria.

Two players scored two goals each: Pollen Ndlanya and Siyabonga Nomvete.