Sporting briefs

Keane: Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane faces a race against time to be fit for Tuesday’s decisive Euro 2012 qualifier against Armenia after being sent for scans on a sore abductor muscle. The 31-year-old complained of soreness after returning from Andorra during the early hours of Saturday following his side’s 2-0 Group B victory and the LA Galaxy star was immediately dispatched for checks on the problem.

Cabaye: Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye hopes to feature in France’s crucial final Euro 2012 qualifier against Bosnia on Tuesday despite suffering an ankle injury against Albania on Friday. “I hope I will be fit for Tuesday and that this game does not pass me by,” he said. “My left ankle got stamped on. I didn’t want to take the risk and came off. I will have tests, I don’t know whether it is a sprain or a bad bruise but it was very painful and I couldn’t carry on like that.”

N. Ireland: Northern Ireland will be without goalkeeper Lee Camp and midfielder Grant McCann for Tuesday’s Euro 2012 qualifier in Italy. The duo have been ruled out of the trip to Pescara after sustaining groin injuries during yesterday’s defeat by Estonia at Windsor Park. That result, a 2-1 reverse after Steven Davis had put the hosts in front, finally ended Northern Ireland’s chances of gaining an unlikely play-off place.

Nigeria: Nigeria became the latest marquee name to miss out on qualification for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations yesterday after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Guinea. Guinea finished top of Group B with 14 points from six matches, while Nigeria were second on 11 points. In the other match of the group, Ethiopia defeated bottom team Madagascar 4-2. Two-time champions Nigeria last failed to qualify for the Nations Cup in 1986 when they were eliminated by Zambia.