It comes as no surprise that the entire continent (52 countries that is) is now rallying behind the Black Stars as they are the only remaining African team in the 2010 Fifa World Cup to have progressed this far.
Accra - the capital city of Ghana - reports Fifa.com, is abuzz with euphoria about their boys having made it this far. Excuse me, it's our fellow African boys = political leaders have asked us all to rally behind them, including the Minister of Home Affairs, Nkosasana Dlamini-Zuma. As Ghana prepares to crush Uruguay on Friday 2 July 20:30 sharp, the support for the Black Stars is gaining momentum with the entire continent hoping that a miracle may happen on the African soil.
Ghana started the tournament on a high pace by becoming the very first African team in the 2010 Fifa World Cup to register a win when they beat Serbia by 1-0 on their first game on 13 June. The team went ahead and had a 1-1 draw with Australia. They then lost 1-0 to Germany - which finished third in the 2006 World Cup held on their home soil - but bounced back with vigour. With sheer determination, Ghana went ahead and enrolled for its second win when they ousted the mighty United States from the World Cup by a 2-1 victory. The US took second place in the 2009 Confederations Cup.
The Black Stars have won the Africa Cup of Nations four times and they made history last week when they became the third African team in Fifa history to reach the World Cup quarter finals. During the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, the team finished second.
In an articled titled Africans eye Ghanaian glory Fifa.com reports that Ghana is on the brink of writing a new chapter in the history of African football at the Fifa World Cup finals. And, as the only African side still left in the competition, reports Fifa.com, the rest of the continent, including some of its most celebrated football stars, are united in backing the Black Stars.
As Ghana paddle down unfamiliar waters to the land of the unknown, continues Fifa.com, the streets in Accra have been gripped by the fever of expectancy. Says Fifa.com, while no-one has been underestimating the might and strength of the Uruguayans, the Black Stars have played with skill, passion, tenacity and, most importantly, they have looked like a side with a plan and a strong will to execute it.
SA football player Tshepo Masilela told Fifa.com: "From day one, I knew that they would do well. Considering what they achieved in the African Cup of Nations with a youthful squad, I believe they can go even further. We all support them now," he said referring to their second-place finish in Angola earlier this year. Steven Pienaar also spoke with the world football body website content writers, "We hoped that there would be more African teams to play in the knock-out stages, but I guess the most important thing is to support whichever African side goes forward. Ghana are a quality side, they have some good players and they have the potential," said the Everton man.
Also Samuel Eto'o of the Cameroon squad told Fifa.com: “They are a young side and are full of potential.They are not only representing their country, but the African continent. I wish them all the best and I believe they have what it takes to advance further in this competition."
With a perfect and mersmerising writing, Fifa.com may just as well be predicting the outcome of the 2010 World Cup and perhaps even summed the whole thing up: "Ghana will flirt with fate and destiny when they face Uruguay in what is expected to be a pulsating quarter-final at Soccer City on Friday night. A berth in the last four at the finals would be an unprecedented feat for an African side, and the Black Stars camp and the rest of Africa are fully aware that the team are on the verge of penning their own fairytale ending with the likes of Asamoah Gyan, John Mensah and the rest as heroes. The third African side to qualify for the quarter-finals, Ghana could be forgiven for dreaming of lifting Africa's first FIFA World Cup Trophy, on 'home' soil no less."