Muslim stars of the World Cup could be affected by Ramadan

Ramadan, the holiest month in Islamic calendar, is expected to start in June 28 through July 27 and that could pose a challenge to faith and footballing commitment to most of the Islamic faithful among the players.Some eyes are fixed on a galaxy of Muslim stars in different teams who will be observing the fasting month of Ramadan during the tournament for the first time since 1986.

Brothers Yahaya and Kolo Toure are majors in the Ivorian team

The tournament sees the participation of a huge number of Muslim stars in different European and African teams along with teams representing six-majority Muslim countries.
Those stars include those from the French squad, including Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema, Mamadou Sakho of Liverpool, Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna and Newcastle’s Moussa Sissoko are all practicing Muslims.

Gervinho features for Ivory Coast

  Ivory Coast brothers Yaya and Kolo Toure, of Manchester City and Liverpool respectively, former Arsenal striker Gervinho and Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote are also Muslim.

Bacary Sagna features for the French team

 The majority of the Bosnia squad, led by Manchester City frontman Edin Dzeko, are Muslims.
 Same are Belgium’s Premier League duo Marouane Fellaini and Moussa Dembele, Switzerland’s key man Xherdan Shaqiri and Arsenal and Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil who are all Muslims.

Swiss playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri

 Algeria, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Bosnia and Herzegovina are the Muslim countries whose international football teams will be present at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
 In Rio de Janeiro, fasting will be for only 11 hours daily, compared to 17-18 hours in the other half of the world.

Arsenal point man Mesut Ozil is a German playmaker

While some Muslim players sought permission to eat and drink during Ramadan, others, such as Kolo Toure, announced their plans to observe the fasting month of Ramadan.
“You definitely need discipline. For me, the first five days are difficult but after that, the body just starts to [adapt] and you feel really happy,” Toure said in a speech given last year.

Marouane Fellaini,who was with Everton before moving to Manchester United will feature for Belgium

Real Madrid`s playmaker Karim Benzema is on the French team

“You clean your body as well and you feel even stronger after Ramadan. I think it’s amazing how Ramadan can make you really strong.
 “I’ve been observing Ramadan during all the years I’ve been in football. It’s very important that you eat well. It’s important that you eat the right food because you can gain weight or you can have less food in your body",Toure said.

Moussa Dembele is on the Belgian squad

Moussa Sisoko features for France

In Ramadan, adult Muslims, except the sick and those traveling, abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset.

The Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote will be on the line-up for Ivory Coast

Edin Dzeko will be leading his Bosnian troop in Group F against teams like Nigerian and Argentina.