Soccer star sentenced to flogging in Sudan

Khartoum, 12 Nov-(ANA)-Nigerian star Stephen Worgu, who plays in Sudan, has been convicted of drinking alcohol and has been sentenced to be flogged.

Worgu plays for the Sudanese giants Al Merreikh, who are based in Omdurman in Northern Sudan.

Alcohol is illegal in the Muslim North, though not in the semi-autonomous and largely non-Muslim South.

The punishment on the diminutive attacking player has not yet been carried out, as his lawyer has appealed.

If the appeal is turned down, Worgu will receive 40 lashes and have to pay a fine of 250 Sudanese pounds, about US$100.

Fifty pounds was for drinking alcohol, and 200 pounds for driving while drunk.

The offence apparently took place in August of this year.

Worgu was bought by Al Merreikh for US$2.6m from Enyimba in Nigeria, in one of the biggest transfers in African history.

He had been the top scorer in the 2008 African Champions League, with 13 goals.

However Worgu's form on the pitch since his move has been something of a disappointment.

He was often left on the bench in key African Champions League game this season. (ANA)

FA/ANA/12 November 2009-----