GHANA (GHA)

Ghana is playing in Group E along with Italy, USA and Czech Republic. The team is popularly known as Black Stars. It's a big opportunity for Ghana this time as they have qualified for their first FIFA World Cup Finals. The Black stars have been enjoying tremendous success at the youth level. They won the World Under-17 title twice. The Ghana team also secured the second position at the world youth championship. Ghana has been four times African Cup of Nations' winners (1963, 1965, 1978 and 1982). Ghana marks their first appearance in the FIFA World Cup.

Ghana qualified quite comfortably with a victory over Somalia. They had a 7-0 aggregate success that sent them into the group stage. In Group 2, they had a draw with 2010 FIFA World Cup hosts South Africa. When they started their campaign they suffered a 1-0 defeat in Burkina Faso. They defeated South Africa 3-0 in Kumasi in June, 2004.

Ghana topped their Group for the first time in September 2004. They defeated Cape-Verde Islands 2-0 in Kumasi. Coach Mariano Barreto quit and this created instability. Serbian Ratomir Dujkovic took charge in late 2004. Under his guidance, the team had a draw against Congo DR. In June 2005, they defeated Burkina Faso 2-1 on home grounds. A 2-0 success in South Africa restored them to the top of the group. A 4-0 victory over Cape Verde in Praia helped Ghana get a place in the FIFA World Cup Finals.

In the past Ghana has produced some of Africa's most talented footballers such as Osei Koffi, Abdulrazak Karim, Ben Acheampong, George Al Hasan, Abedi Pele and Anthony Yeboah.

Ghana has a formidable-midfield comprising of Captain Appiah, Michael Essien and Sulley Ali Muntari. Ghana team has set their goals high and the young bunch is a disciplined and focused one. The fans out there in Ghana have high hopes from their team.