Ghana to meet Brazil in second round of World Cup

By Tichaona Sibanda
23 June 2006

Ghana have become the only African team to reach the World Cup second round and will now face reigning champions Brazil in the knock-out stages.

Five other African countries, Angola, Tunisia, Togo and Ivory Coast have all impressed at the World Cup, but fell short because of inexperience on the big stage.

Sports analyst Natty Zvimba says the standard of play among African countries has ‘greatly improved’ and former Ghana football legend Abedi ‘pele’ Ayew commenting on his country’s victory over the USA on Thursday said: ‘It feels great because this has never happened to our country.’

Ghana coach Ratomir Dujkovic told BBC Sport he thinks his side’s qualification for the World Cup knockout stages heralds the start of a new era for football in Ghana. The World Cup debutants clinched their place in the second round with a 2-1 victory over the United States.

Brazil, Ghana’s opponents on June 27 in Dortmund, will be seeking a record sixth world title. Ghana, ranked 48th by the football governing body FIFA, face a daunting task against the World champions.

Zvimba pointed out that despite the underdog tag Ghana still pose a serious threat and Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira is worried about them. He said the ‘Africans will be very difficult opponents who had outplayed their group rivals with very fast passing.’

‘I am putting my money on Ghana to beat Brazil, althougth its going to be tough, but as an African brother I am solidly behind Ghana to cause one of the major shocks of the World Cup,’ Zvimba said.