The Black Stars of Ghana started 2014 on a high and ended on a low. It was the year the Stars' over-bloated egos also landed them in global humiliation at the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup over delayed appearance fees.

Worse still, the unfortunate crisis pushed the government of Ghana to, for the first time, fly over $3million to Brazil in a chartered flight Hollywood style before the Stars could honour their last group game against Portugal in the capital Brasilia.

That summarised Ghana's third World Cup campaign which saw Kwasi Appiah emerging as the first Ghanaian coach to lead the Stars to the Mundial, yet bowing out in the first round with a single point in three games.

One thing led to another and dissatisfied Ghanaians called for a probe into the Stars' ignominious campaign which was in sharp contrast with the two previous competitions, and President John Mahama did not hesitate to form a three-man Presidential Commission of Inquiry to investigate the mat

Ghana’s pedigree as a superior powerhouse in continental football was taken to a different height as their representatives at the 2014 Championship of African Nations Cup (CHAN) in South Africa exhibited a spirited performance yet failed to clinch the trophy.

Cameroun's assistant coach, Ibrahim Tanko, has backed his boss, Volker Finke, in the decision to leave out  West Ham United loanee, Alexandre Song, out of his provisional 24-man squad for the  2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Equatorial Guinea next month.

Over 300 tickets was sold out in the first week towards Saturday’s thriller between Ghana’s Ayittey Powers and Beninois Anicet Amoussou at the Unity Park at Tantra Hills, Achimota, in Accra.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) last Thursday unveiled the top three nominees for the 2014 Glo-CAF African Footballer of the Year Award without Black Stars skipper Asamoah Gyan.

Arsenal moved above West Ham to the Premier League’s fifth position after inflicting a first home defeat on the Hammers since August.

Chelsea and Spain striker Fernando Torres will join AC Milan on a permanent basis on January 5.

Emmanuel “Game Boy” Tagoe last Friday produced a masterful display to win the WBA International Lightweight title with a sixth round technical knockout (TKO) of Tanzanian Sadiki Momba in front of a capacity crowd at the tennis court of the Accra Sports Stadium.

Kwame Ligbidi was the toast of last Saturday’s MTN CEO’s Invitational golf tournament when his net score of 67 earned him the ultimate prize.

Memorable names, breakthrough stars, sporting soap operas, strangest moments and spats not involving Kevin Pietersen - chief sports writer Tom Fordyce hands out his alternative 2014 sports awards.

Outgoing captain of the Royal Golf Club, Kumasi, Mr Martin Poku, has described his two-year reign as a success.

Manchester City Manager Manuel Pellegrini hopes to resolve the future of Frank Lampard "within the next few days".

Winfred Osei, chairman of the Black Satellites Management Committee, says the lack of competition has put local-based players  at a disadvantage in the selection of players for the Back Satellites ahead of the African Youth Championship next year.

Manchester United are just "one step away" from securing the signature of Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman, according to Italian agent Matteo Materazzi.

French coach Loic Courteau confirmed yesterday that he has been in talks to join Andy Murray's support team.