Pretoria - Ghana will carry the hopes of Africa in the continent's first World Cup after the Black Stars managed to qualify to reach the next round of the tournament.
Though they lost to Germany by 1-nil at Soccer City last night, Ghana's place in the group of 16 was sealed when Australia defeated Serbia in another Group D match.
This means both Germany and Ghana are through to the next round. Ghana needed just a single point to advance to the next round.
The two teams will now face England and the United States, respectively. Bloemfontein will be the venue for the Germany and England clash on Sunday while Mangaung will welcome Ghana and the US on Saturday.
In their highly contested clash at Soccer City, neither side managed to score before halftime, but Mesut Oezil late struck ensured the Germans victory over the African.
Both sides started the second half without any changes in their line up with Germany continuing its attack on the Black Stars. The match also saw half brothers Kevin-Prince Boateng of Ghana and Germany's Jerome Boateng face each other for the first time at a World Cup.
Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac said his team will be relying heavy on the support of South Africans as it takes on the challenge of trying to become the first African nation to lift up the World Cup trophy.
"I hope the majority of South Africans will continue to support us," he said, adding that he hoped the massive support given to the African teams in the tournament will now be directed to Ghana.
Ghana was also the only African side to get out of the group stage at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany and the first to qualify for the first African World Cup in South Africa. They have won four CAF African Cup of Nations and it is hoped that the Black Stars will be able to prove a major upset against the best as the World Cup gets competitive.
