Africa prepares to back Ghana in historic World Cup quest (Feature)

By Michael Logan Jun 29, 2010, 13:33 GMT

Johannesburg - Africa is gearing up to throw its support behind Ghana as the Black Stars aim to become the first team from the continent to reach the semi-final of a World Cup.

Ghana are the only African team left in the tournament, which is taking place on the continent for the first time, after all the other sides exited at the first round.

The Black Stars have already done the continent proud by beating the United States 2-1 after extra-time in the Round of 16 to draw level with Cameroon and Senegal as Africa's best performers at a World Cup.

Now they are looking to go one better and defeat Uruguay in Johannesburg's Soccer City on Friday to secure a tough semi-final tie against Brazil or the Netherlands.

Former South African president Thabo Mbeki this week issued a call to the continent to get behind the West African nation.

'I am certain that these millions will now rally behind the Black Stars to guarantee that we cap the fact of the very successful hosting of the World Cup by Africa by ensuring ... the Black Stars, now of Africa, win the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup,' he said.

Football fans across Africa look set to answer Mbeki's call by cheering Ghana on at big screens and in bars from South Africa to Nigeria.

Nigeria performed poorly and dropped out at the group stages, but fans in Africa's most-populous nation have overcome their pain to back the Black Stars.

'We have all switched our allegiance to Ghana after the Super Eagles' disappointing performance,' said Ahmed Maiwada, an Abuja-based lawyer.

Maiwada plans to take in the match at a public-viewing area for the atmosphere, which he believes will be electric when Ghana defeat the South Americans.

Kenya failed to qualify at all, but that has not stopped fans there backing African sides.

People from all layers of society have been tuning in - even in Kibera, the capital Nairobi's notoriously grim slum, the poorest of the poor have been able to watch some games on a big screen.

Entrepreneur Akinyi Adongo and her friends will watch the showdown in the popular Gypsy's bar in the party district of Westlands.

'We are all in awe of the Ghana team; after all, they are 'the hope of Africa',' she said. 'Ghana can beat Uruguay, but they need to get their A-game on.'

In Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, all the matches are being shown on a big screen in the central Meskel Square.

Huge crowds have been gathering and disrupting traffic when African teams play, and it looks set to be the same on Friday, as fans pray Ghana will show Africa deserves more places at football's top table.

'It is very important (that Ghana are doing well),' Ethiopian football fanatic Aaron Maasho said. 'It is testimony that African football has indeed developed and calls for more berths in World Cups are justified.'

Even in conflict-ridden Somalia, people are defying a ban on watching games issued by an insurgent group that flogs or executes those who transgress its strict interpretation of Islamic law.

They are huddled in their homes in the ravaged capital Mogadishu, with the sound turned down on their televisions to avoid being detected by roaming Islamists.

But support for Ghana is not uniform.

In host nation South Africa, some fans have switched their allegiance from Bafana Bafana, who went out despite a historic 2-1 victory over France, to Brazil.

In the Pick n Pay supermarket on Cape Town's V&A Waterfront, a cashier got into an argument with her colleague, who like many other South Africans, has a soft spot for the Selecao.

Her efforts to persuade her work-mate to support Ghana failed, but tens of millions of other voices will be raised in a cheer that will shake the continent should the Black Stars triumph.