Pride of Africa

Ever since the elimination of the likes of Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, South Africa and Algeria, many football fans around the world thought that this was the end for Africa, the continent that for the first time in the annals of global football hosts the 2010 World Cup.

Little was it known that Ghana, the only African team left in the tournament, would revive the hopes of Africans to qualify to the quarterfinal stages. Ghana?s Black Stars Saturday made an historic win against the USA, which qualifies them to the quarterfinals of the tournament for the first time.

Ghana has performed satisfactorily, since the start of the tournament, and must maintain this to make all Africans proud. They defeated the Americans on Saturday to knock them out of the 2010 tournament, and are the last of six African teams that began the first World Cup on the continent.

With this historic win, Ghana has proved cynics wrong by reviving the hopes of Africans that, yes we can do it, and will go all out to do it, despite all the criticisms.

The continent should be behind Ghana and give them all the necessary support needed to ensure that Africa retains the trophy.

No doubt this would not only boost economic activity and sports around the continent, but also bring peace on the continent, which has in the past been seen as a hub of wars, poverty and corruption.

The Ghana experience ought to serve as a guide to other African teams to acquire all the requisite know-how and prepare ahead of time before heading for such competitive tournaments. Ghana has taken its time to learn the ropes and come out in style.

They should spare no effort to redeem Africa's pride and prestige in world football, and we pray that they go all the way to win the coveted trophy, as it is possible for them to spring a surprise.

With its track record in football, both in and outside the continent, there is no doubt that Ghana can lift the trophy.

However, as always emphasised on this page, it is our belief that if African football is to move on, local officials in charge of football, at all levels, including coaches, as well as players should look to foreign leagues to gain expertise and professionalism.

"Most successful men have not achieved their distinction by having some new talent or opportunity presented to them. They have developed the opportunity that was at hand."
Bruce Barton