Former Nigeria star Daniel Amokachi has signed with a United Arab Emirates second division club.

The club, called Emirates, announced through its general secretary, Ibrahim Jaoui, that Amokachi had signed a deal for the 2002/03 season.

The club hope that Amokachi can help them achieve promotion to the top flight.

Amokachi, who has missed several years through injury, follows Algerian Moussa Saib and former Senegal coach Bruno Metsu in joining UAE clubs in the past week.

Injury plagued

Amokachi helped Nigeria win the 1994 Nations' Cup and the 1996 Olympics, and competed in the 1994 and 1998 World Cups.

However the 29-year-old, has not been selected for the Super Eagles since sustaining a serious knee injury in 1998.

Amokachi moved to the US last season to play for Colorado Rapids but was released from his contract because of a lack of fitness.

He has not played top-level football since he left Turkish club, Besiktas in 2000.

Two years ago, English first division side, Manchester City, were keen on signing "The Bull", as Amokachi is popularly known.

But a medical examination of his knee showed that the striker was not fully fit, which scuppered the deal.

A contract that Amokachi signed with German Bundesliga club, 1860 Munich, was terminated for similar health reasons.

Amokachi's knee troubles started just before the 1998 World Cup finals, managing only 45 minutes against Bulgaria in the first round.