Sulley Muntari, Kevin-Prince Boateng kicked off Ghana team

Ghana threw Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng out of its World Cup squad for disciplinary reasons on Thursday, plunging the African team into further chaos ahead of its decisive group-stage match against Portugal.

Just a day after seeming to resolve a possible player mutiny over World Cup bonus payments, the Ghana Football Association released two separate statements saying two of the country's stars had been "suspended ... indefinitely from the Black Stars with immediate effect."

Ghana threw Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng out of its World Cup squad for disciplinary reasons on Thursday, plunging the African team into further chaos ahead of its decisive group-stage match against Portugal. (Associated Press)

Muntari was suspended "in the wake of his unprovoked physical attack on an executive committee member of the GFA and a management member of the Black Stars, Mr. Moses Armah" on Tuesday, one statement read.

Brazil 2014: Nigeria Picks Yobo, Osaze, 21 Others; Drops Nsofor, Mba-PREMIUM TIMES

Joseph Yobo
Super Eagles Captain

Nigeria’s captain, Joseph Yobo, will play in his third FIFA World Cup finals and has the opportunity to become Nigeria’s first ever player to have 100 international caps after he was named in the African champions’ final list of 23 for Brazil 2014.

Also going to their third World Cup are goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide.

Midfield anchorman, John Mikel Obi, will only be attending his first finals after Nigeria narrowly missed qualifying for Germany 2006 and he was omitted from South Africa 2010 due to injury.

Former junior international defender, Elderson Echiejile, and Olympic silver medalist, Osaze Odemwingie, who were also in South Africa four years ago, make the cut for the biggest showpiece in football, which starts on June 12.

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations top scorer, Emmanuel Emenike, is joined in the attack by England-based duo of Victor Moses and Shola Ameobi, as well as former junior international, Uche Nwofor. But there is no place for Olympic silver medalist, Obinna Nsofor, and nimble–footed Nnamdi Oduamadi.

Home based goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi; ex-Inter Milan midfielder, Joel Obi; South Africa 2013 hero, Sunday Mba; former U-23 star, Nosa Igiebor; and 2014 CHAN most valuable player, Ejike Uzoenyi; also miss out on the trip to South America.

NIGERIA’S FINAL 23 FOR BRAZIL 2014

GOALKEEPERS: Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim

DEFENDERS: Joseph Yobo, Elderson Echiejile, Juwon Oshaniwa, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kenneth Omeruo, Efe Ambrose, Kunle Odunlami

MIDFIELDERS: John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Michael Uchebo, Reuben Gabriel

FORWARDS: Osaze Odemwingie, Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Emmanuel Emenike, Babatunde Michael, Victor Moses, Uche Nwofor

Onazi: I escaped Jos blasts by 15 minutes

Ogenyi Onazi

Super Eagles and Lazio of Italy midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, has said that he narrowly escaped being killed in last week’s suicide bombings in Jos, Plateau State.

Onazi, who was born in Jos, told the British Broadcasting Corporation on Tuesday, that he left the popular Main Market in Jos, barely 15 minutes before the first blast rocked the area.

The first and second blasts at the crowded   market killed at least 150 people.

   “I am very, very lucky, just by the grace of God,”   said Onazi who   is now with the Super Eagles in London as they prepare for Wednesday’s(today) friendly against Scotland.

Nigeria’s Falconets struggle into World Cup semi

Nigeria’s Under 20 Female team, the Falconets, have qualified for the semi-final of the FIFA world cup taking place in Japan.
They defeated Mexico 1-0 in the quarter final of Japan 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and progressed to the semi final stage of the competition.
The Edwin Okon-tutored side scored the only goal of the pulsating match in the 109th minute through Desire Oparanozie, who nodded the back breaking winner beyond goalkeeper Cecilia Santiago.