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Ghana Honours Africa (19.06.2006)
The Black Stars grabbed Africa’s first victory at the ongoing World Cup last Saturday.
In what can be considered the biggest upset in Germany so far, African first timers, the Black Stars of Ghana, humbled highly-favoured Czech Republic, 2 — 0, last Saturday to record the Black Continent’s first victory in Germany. A goal by Asamoah Gyan in the second minute gave the Black Stars the lead and Sulley Muntari sealed the victory in the 82nd minute. The handful of Ghana supporters at the 45,000-seat Cologne Stadium and thousands of German sympathisers had every reason to roar and dance with delight. By beating highly-favoured Czech Republic, the Black Stars broke the jinx that has gripped African teams since the start of the tournament. It also threw Group E wide open.
All four Group E teams, even the USA which has just one point, still have a chance to fight for a berth in the round of 16. Italy (four points) can still not make it to the round of 16 if it loses its last match. Ghana can continue to nurture hopes of moving to the knock out stage if it beats the USA. But the United States, which now finds itself with a chance to advance to the second round if it also beats Ghana on Thursday in its final first-round game, will not be an easy ride. For the United States to reach the round of 16, however, it must win, coupled with an Italian victory over the Czechs, or there would have to be an Italy-Czech tie along with a U.S. victory by a margin of several goals.
Angola is also targeting the knock-out stage from Group D. The virgin tie against Mexico last Friday gave the Palancras Negras reason to dream. Goalkeeper, Joao Ricardo, who was named "man of the match" after a string of impressive saves that kept Mexico at bay in
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Hanover, has promised to keep his net un-devoured when Angola meets Iran in their last group match. Only Portugal, which is leading Group D with six points, has already clinched a spot in the second round. Iran is out, while Portugal will be in the race for the second ticket with its former colony Angola.
Meanwhile, Cote d’Ivoire became the first African victim when it fell to the Netherlands 2 — 1. The dream of the Elephants to represent Africa "honourably" at the World Cup has thus been dashed. Their last match against Serbia and Montenegro on Wednesday will simply be for pride. Togo and Tunisia play their second matches today. The Hawks, who started their World Cup campaign amidst instability in their technical crew (resignation and return of coach) plan to fly high when they face Switzerland in Dortmund. The Carthage Eagles, galvanised by the one point they picked from their 2 — 2 draw against Saudi Arabia, hope to move one more step towards their qualification for the knock out stage when they meet Spain in Stuttgart.
At press time yesterday, some six teams had already qualified for the second stage — Germany, Ecuador, England, Argentina, Holland and Portugal. Argentina advanced to the round of 16 with authority. In what can be considered the most impressive performance so far in this World Cup, the two-time champions rolled to a 6-0 victory over Serbia & Montenegro in a Group C match on Friday in Geselkirchen. With Maradona, who helped Argentina win their last title in 1986, cheering in the stand, it`s easy to start believing that Argentina would be champions. Even if this were not to be the case, the victory built confidence and restored Argentina`s prestige, erasing dark memories of the first-round ouster four years ago in Japan.
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