Reaching the semi-finals: They were a whisker away from glory in 2010 when Asamoah Gyan stepped for a stoppage-time penalty against Uruguay – but he blasted it over the bar to brush aside a long-held African dream. Ghana are now more mature and more confident with the likes of now-experienced Gyan, Michael Essien, Suley Muntari and rising stars Christian Atsu, Kawadwo Asamoah and Andre Ayew.
Three strikes in a row:Â If they survive the group stage this year, the Black Stars will become the only African team to go through three times in a row. Ghana qualified for the round of 16 in their first ever appearance in 2006, then reached the quarters in 2010. It will be a tough mission this year as they have been paired in the group of death alongside Germany, Portugal and USA.
Revenge from Germany: Ghana lost to Germany 1-0 in South Africa 2010 in a very contested game. They will be hoping to give them a bit of payback when they meet on 21 June. Brothers Boateng – Jerome (Germany) and Kevin-Prince (Ghana) – will come face-to-face again at opposite sides of the pitch.
Goals from Gyan:Â Asamoah Gyan will enter World Cup history if he does what he does best: score goals. Until now the 28-year old striker has four goals to his name (one in 2006 and three in 2010) and is one short of Cameroon and Africa great Roger Milla, who is Africa's best-ever scorer in the World Cup.
Coach Appiah's challenge: Seven African nations have already gone through the group stage, from Morocco in 1986 until Ghana did it themselves in 2010. But none of them have achieved such an achievement with a national coach. Appiah won the All-African Games title in 2011 with Ghana U-23 and took over Ghana in 2012, leading them to the World Cup finals. He hopes to achieve more glory in Brazil.
Source: Ahram Online