Ghana count on SA support in AFCON after Bafana elimination

Published on: 04 February 2013

Ghana will be counting on the support of South Africans to steer the Black Stars to their fifth Africa Cup of Nations title after the host nation was eliminated from the tournament.

Bafana Bafana were defeated by Mali in the quarter-final on Saturday in a penalty shoot-out leaving the fans of the home team in search of the side to support for the rest of the competition.

Ghana won many hearts in South Africa when the country hosted the 2010 World Cup which has led to the Black Stars seeking the support of the host nation once again.

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah, who was the assistant coach at the 2010 World Cup, is aware of the role South Africans played in helping the Black Stars reach the second round of the World Cup.

Appiah said wherever his squad goes in South Africa it feels welcome and at home, following the achievements of 2010 when Ghana reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

But Ghana will travel north boosted by the good feeling the team always has when it's in South Africa, Appiah and captain Asamoah Gyan said, and might even pick up a few more supporters now that the host nation is out.

"Three years ago, we won a lot of hearts in South Africa," Gyan said.

"They (South African fans) should keep on praying for the Black Stars."

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