DUROSIMI THOMAS, ACCRA

The Ghanaian international goalkeeper James Nanor has been banned for one year by the African football body, CAF, for spitting in a referee's face.

Nanor was playing for Ghanaian champions Hearts of Oak against Shooting Stars of Nigeria in Ibadan when he spat in the face of Ivorian referee Zinko Zeli during a final group game of the African Champions League last month.

Initially, CAF suspended him indefinitely, but according to the African football body, Nanor is now banned for one year, which means he will miss next year's Champions League with his club and the African Nations Cup finals with the national team, the Black Stars.

Nanor was due to have been in the Ghana squad that faced Tunisia in Sfax on Wednesday, but the second reserve goalkeeper, Constant Mantey of Asante Kotoko, replaced him against the north Africans.

Richard Kingston of Turkish club Galatasaray is the Black Stars' first choice goalkeeper. However, Nanor is the favourite reserve goalkeeper for Italian coach Giusseppe Dossena, who will probably replace him with under-23 international, Sammy Adjei.