Two of Ghana's star players have been suspended from the team just hours before their crucial World Cup match against Portugal. AC Milan's Sulley Muntari and Schalke's Kevin-Prince Boateng have both had their World Cup accreditation withdrawn, the Ghana FA (GFA) announced.

The two former Portsmouth players will play no part in Ghana's must-win last group match against Portugal in Brasilia on Thursday. Boateng "verbally abused" coach Kwesi Appiah, said the GFA.

Karim Benzema believes France are in for another thorough examination of their qualities against Nigeria in the Round of 16, after their rugged encounter with Ecuador.

Les Bleus had been free-scoring in their opening two games of the FIFA World Cup™ but had to settle for a 0-0 draw against Ecuador, a result that also guaranteed top spot in the group for Didier Deschamps' side.

Lusaka, Zambia, June 26: The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has signalled that it will extend the contract of its national soccer team coach Patrice Beaumelle upon the expiry of the current deal at the end of next month.

FAZ Communications Manager, NkwetoTembwe told journalists in Lusaka that time was not on the side of the FA to start looking for a new manager for the national team to replace the French tactician. 

Islam Slimani’s second-half header secured Algeria a 1-1 draw with Russia that sent them into the knockout phase of the FIFA World Cup™ for the first time. Fabio Capello’s side had been on course to seize the runners-up spot in Group H thanks to Alexander Kokorin’s early goal, but Vahid Halilhodzic’s men rallied to secure a trip to Porto Alegre to face Germany on Monday.

Parity lasted just six minutes in Curitiba, and it owed as much to a gorgeous cross as it did to an assured finish. Dmitry Kombarov collected the ball of the left flank and guided it on to the head of Kokorin, who combined power and accuracy to find the top corner from nine yards.

Midway through the half, Oleg Shatov burst purposefully through the midfield and unleashed a 25-yard strike that wasn’t far off target.

Argentina secured top spot in Group F and preserved their unblemished record at Brazil 2014 with a 3-2 win over Nigeria illuminated by braces for Lionel Messi and Ahmed Musa. Alejandro Sabella's side will be joined in the Round of 16 by the Super Eagles, who contributed greatly to this enthralling match and progress due to Iran's defeat to already-eliminated Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Even in a World Cup packed full of thrilling games, this was one of the best yet, and the tone was set as early as the third minute. That was when Messi opened the scoring in some style, crashing a first-time shot into the roof of the net from 12 yards after Vincent Enyeama had tipped Angel Di Maria's initial effort on to the post.

Algeria coach Vahid Halilhodzic hopes his side can better their country's "super" team of the 1982 FIFA World Cup™ by qualifying for the second round for the first time in their history when they face Russia on Thursday.

The Desert Foxes will seal their place in the Round of 16 with a win, but should just need a draw barring a heavy victory for South Korea over Belgium. Algeria missed out on the second round 32 years ago on goal difference after West Germany and Austria played out a 1-0 win for the Germans in the last group game seeing both sides progressing..

Algeria midfielder Abdelmoumene Djabou had to learn the value of hard graft and perseverance as he sought recognition for his talents. Far from a headline-maker when he started out with ES Setif, he then had to endure an aborted transfer to Swiss side Sion, before finally hitting his stride in his two seasons since a 2012 switch to Club Africain.

Despite sparkling performances for the Tunisian outfit, Djabou missed the cut as Algeria travelled to the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2013. Vahid Halilhodzic doubted the 27-year-old's capacity to influence a match for more than ten minutes, but Djabou stuck at his task, determined to change the Bosnian coach's mind. His reward duly came when Les Fennecs (Desert Foxes) unveiled their 23-man party for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.

Incredible drama unfolded in Fortaleza when Georgios Samaras converted a stoppage-time penalty to secure Greece a 2-1 victory over Côte d'Ivoire to set up a Round of 16 clash against Costa Rica at the FIFA World Cup™.

A truly topsy-turvy encounter appeared to be finishing in the African challengers’ favour until they conceded a crucial spot-kick in the closing seconds, providing their opponents with a chance to progress and maintaining their frustrating record of not qualifying from a group stage at the tournament.

Côte d'Ivoire duo Kolo and Yaya Toure were both named in the starting XI just days after the tragic passing of their brother, Ibrahim. Didier Drogba, meanwhile, was included from kick-off for the first time in the competition. From the opposition dugout, Fernando Santos opted for three changes in a must-win encounter.

Brazil 4 - 1 Cameroon

They once stood as tall as the Kilimanjaro Mountains (the highest peak in Africa) for the African continent in global Football but how low have the mighty fallen to become the whipping boys of global football at the 2014 FIFA World Cup tournament in Brazil.

Cameroon exits the FIFA 2014 World Cup in the most embarrassing fashion conceding 8 goals in their last two showing to Croatia and Brazil respectively the worst showing ever for the Indomitable Lions who once dominated at this stage. It got so bad that the team devolved into absolute chaos as players got entangled with each other in fisticuffs.

After narrowly beating their World Cup nemesis Ghana in the first game 2-1 and drawing 2-2 with Portugal last night in a fight until the very end, the U.S. men’s national team’s hopes of advancing come down to Thursday’s match with Germany at Arena Pernambuco (ESPN, UniMas at 12 p.m. ET). Led by leading scorer and captain Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), the U.S. team controls its own destiny needing a win or a tie to advance to the knockout round. A breakdown of the scenarios in which the U.S. can advance – even if they lose – can be found here.

Brazil celebrated their 100th FIFA World Cup™ match with a fittingly entertaining 4-1 victory over Cameroon to arrange a mouthwatering Round of 16 meeting with fellow South Americans Chile.

A double from Neymar, now the top scorer at the tournament with a quartet of strikes, and second-half efforts by Fred and Fernandinho proved enough to secure top spot in Group A for Luiz Felipe Scolari’s team, ahead of Mexico on goal difference. Their opponents, on the other hand, say farewell to the competition without a point from three outings.

Buoyed by reverberating noise in Brasilia, the hosts were fast and direct, causing consternation for the African side regularly from kick-off by moving the ball to their frontline as quickly as possible. They were thankful for the positioning of Marcelo in the tenth minute, however – the Real Madrid full-back crucially blocked a goal-bound piledriver from Eyong Enoh.

Cool, calm, calculated and never one to make hasty decisions, Côte d'Ivoire head coach Sabri Lamouchi's style on the sidelines has a lot in common with what he was like as a player. A tireless worker, the 42-year-old former defensive midfielder – who was capped 18 times for France – was hugely influential everywhere he plied his trade, including notably at Auxerre, Inter Milan and Marseille. Known for always making the right choices on the pitch, he appears to have taken this priceless attribute into his career in the dugout.

"We are trying to find our own style," Lamouchi told FIFA. "We've been working together and building this group for two years now. We've got to know each other and want to stamp our mark on the pitch." Speaking of which, there is no question that the squad has the coach's fingerprints all over it: a blend of up-and-coming talents making their debut at the FIFA World Cup™ and seasoned veterans, it is a group forged in his image, with youth and wisdom rolled into one.

23 June 2014 -The South African Football Association (SAFA) has received a lot of media inquiries following an article in a Nigerian website claiming that Stephen Keshi had signed a two-year contract to take over the Bafana Bafana job.

SAFA would like to reiterate its earlier position that the new Bafana Bafana coach will only be announced mid-July following due processes.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach got very much into the spirit of Olympic Day today, addressing over 1,000 runners in a 5.2 km run before hosting Olympic Day celebrations at the IOC headquarters, where he called on people around the world to get physically active and enjoy the benefits of leading healthy lifestyles.

Joining President Bach for the kick-off of the 2nd edition of the Olympic Capital Run were fellow Olympians and current International Academy of Sports Science and Technology (AISTS) students Udo-Obong Enee (Nigeria, athletics), Hisham Shehab (Bahrain, aquatics), Slaven Dizdarevic (Slovakia, decathlon) and Maria Ntanou (Greece, cross-country skiing). Athens 2004 mascots Athena and Phevos and London 2012 mascot Wenlock were also on hand to help spread the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect.

Very few people predicted that Algeria would be able to secure a win at the 2014 Fifa World Cup, lest alone become the first African side to score four goals in the history of the tournament.

The emphatic win moved the Desert Foxes close to their first ever appearance in the knock out rounds after dishing out a 4-2 defeat to South Korea in Porto Alegre yesterday.

Nigeria 1 – 0 Bosnia

The Super Eagles looked at best lackluster in their first game against Iran and were truly discombobulated but after the Iranians played Argentina to an almost goalless draw we have come to realize that the Iranians are no push over.

In today’s match the Eagles looked a lot more composed and crisp and were in sync with each other and moreover they had more shots at the goal and their striker Emenike  was more Drogbalike in his approach today putting a lot more pressure on the Bosnians who at time were so frustrated by his consistent attach at the goal that they stated fouling him even without the ball.

Ghana 2 – 2 Germany

It was a game that lived up to the hype as Soccer and European powerhouse Germany got held in Brazil by African powerhouse the Black Stars of Ghana in their Group G (Group of Death) matchup in a game that most thought Ghana would lose and be out of the World Cup.

An interesting note is the outright presumptuous comment made by the ESPN commentator calling the Germany Vs Ghana game who was already looking ahead to the round of 16 for the US and Germany indicating the disrespect that is out there for the African continent and the African game.

New proposed 2022 FIFA World CupTM stadium unveiled in Al Khor

Al Bayt Stadium & Precinct to accommodate 60,000 football fans and provide local residents of Al Khor and Al Thakhira communities with retail and leisure facilities

DOHA, 21 June 2014.  The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and the Aspire Zone Foundation today revealed the name and design for a new 60,000-seat stadium and precinct in Al Khor at a press conference held at Al Khor Sports Club.

Television coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ broke a whole host of viewing records during the first round of group matches in Brazil, highlighting the growing popularity of the competition and football around the world.

Opening matches set new audience highs for 2014 all over the world as fans watched in record numbers in countries such as Brazil, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Argentina, France, the Netherlands, Croatia and Italy. An all-time high was set in the French-speaking part of Belgium.

20 June 2014 - Sasol Banyana Banyana held a four day training camp which ended today. The South African Senior Women’s National Team coach Vera Pauw says it was important to have this camp so as to keep the players active. This is in preparation for the upcoming 9th edition of the African Women’s Championship in Namibia later this year.

The squad lost 4-2 in a practice match against the SAFA School of Excellence U16 team on Wednesday (18 June) at the Bedfordview FC grounds.

 “You can't hide from pressure. Football is a game of pressure. Everyone expects big things from you.”

The broad shoulders of Emmanuel Emenike look capable of withstanding their fair share of expectations, but after Nigeria's opening 0-0 draw with Iran – where the reigning African champions largely failed to ignite – he accepts there will be even more than usual when they face Group F rivals Bosnia and Herzegovina.

As a result the team have come in for some criticism from the football-loving streets of Abudja, Lagos and across the rest of their West African homeland on the other side of the Atlantic, but the burly Fenerbahçe striker feels they must take it in their stride. “When things don't go well, everyone speaks, everyone talks the way they like,” he told FIFA.

The South Africa junior rugby side failed to shrug off a tough fight from England after they lost the 2014 IRB Junior World Cup final that was held at Eden Park in New Zealand on Friday morning. Having controlled the game from the onset, South Africa were eventually dismantled in the second half losing 21-20.

The Baby Boks, went into the match clearly knowing the dangers posed by England but their confidence was sky high after they defeated hosts New Zealand in the semi finals. England controlled the ball well with an excellent rolling to run down the clock and were duly rewarded for their perseverance.

All six captains to attend a press conference on 20 June



Tournament kicks off on 21 June in Singapore

 
The six captains participating in Pepsi ICC World Cricket League (WCL) Division 4 have spoken of their excitement ahead of the start of the event, which commences in Singapore on 21 June.
 
During the week-long tournament, Italy, Denmark, Jersey, Malaysia, Oman and host Singapore will lock horns for the chance to progress to WCL Div. 3, which will be played in Uganda from 26 October.

Liverpool star striker, Luis Suarez, put up a splendid show last night and was deservedly awarded with two goals that knocked England out of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Both sides entered the match clearly knowing that a defeat would send them on the next plane home and it was Suarez who nodged the South American outfit ahead with a crisp first half header.

England then fought hard in the second half and were duly rewarded when Wayne Rooney recorded his first ever World Cup goal to level matters.

The biggest shock of the 2014 FIFA World Cup has come and like in 2010, the holders of the cup have been knocked out.

Reigning champs Spain were booted out last night in emphatic fashion by a resurgent Chile side who also put Vicente Del Bosque’s job on the line as he risks facing the chop after the tournament.

Spain have been the dominant world football powerhouse for the past six years having secured back to back Euro championships in addition to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Their renowned tiki taka passing game hit a brick hall against a well disciplined Chilean outfit.