11.   He underwent a quintuple heart bypass operation in November, and recently cancelled two international engagements, including a summit meeting with the European Union in the Netherlands.

12.   He was forced to cancel two international engagements due to his latest bout of ill health.

13.   The NFA has often clashed with overseas clubs over securing the release of players for international engagements.

14.   Yeltsin, who also underwent a quintuple heart bypass operation in November, was forced to cancel two international engagements due to his latest bout of ill health.

15.   It also means that frequent club-versus-country row between African national teams and foreign clubs over the release of players for international engagements should decrease significantly.

16.   The French president is scheduled to meet Chancellor Helmut Kohl later on Thursday for his first international engagement since being sworn in on Wednesday.