Ghana
WORLD CUP 2014
Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah dropped a number of big names, including ex-captain John Mensah and Isaac Vorsah. Michael Essien has been selected for his second World Cup after missing the 2010 tournament through injury, while Asamoah Gyan and Sulley Muntari are on course to appear at the tournament for their third time.
The Black Stars will begin training in Accra on 20 May before travelling to Amsterdam for a friendly against Netherlands on 30 May. Appiah says he will then prune down his squad to 23 players before heading to the United States of America for the final phase of preparations in Miami.
Ghana's final pre-World cup friendly will be against South Korea in Miami before the team arrives in Maceio, their World Cup base on 11 June, five days before their world cup opener against USA. They will also face Germany and Portugal in Group G.
Ghana is one of the five african teams who will participate at the World Cup 2014 in Brazil.
(BBC Sport, Accra by Michael Oti Adjei / May 2014)
Former winners Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Zambia lose at home.
Atsu is one of several high-profile players omitted by Kwesi Appiah.
Several Africans have been voted onto various Fifa committees.
Waris grabbed his 9th goal of the season in Lorient's 5:1 thrashing of Metz.
Liberia in freefall in latest Fifa rankings
Kwesi Appiah returns as Ghana coach on a two-year contract.
Ahmad won 34 of the 54 votes in the election.
Konadu has been named Ghana caretaker coach for a second spell
Thomas Partey has been at Atletico for six years.
Cameroon climb 29 places in Fifa rankings.
