The Black Stars of Ghana
Asamoah Gyan dedicated his winning goal in Ghana’s 2-1 extra-time last-16 win over the USA to the whole of Africa.
Ghana reached the quarter-finals for the first time – only the third African team to do so – courtesy of the Rennes striker’s 93rd-minute winner.
The Black Stars will play Uruguay in the last eight and Gyan said: “I am the happiest man in the world.
“In 2006 we made the second round, now we have gone a step further. We’ve made Ghana and the whole of Africa proud.”
Gyan’s third goal of the tournament means the 24-year-old is joint top tournament goalscorer with three alongside Uruguay’s Luis Suarez and Argentina’s Gonzalo Higuain .
Suarez and Gyan will have the opportunity to add to their tallies when Uruguay and Ghana meet in Johannesburg on 2 July for a place in the semi-finals.
Despite the sizeable American contingent at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, Ghana’s support was considerably swelled by local fans cheering on the one remaining African team from five left in the competition.
And striker Andre Ayew said the extra support inspired Ghana to success.
“We’re very disappointed there were no African teams with us,” said the son of former Ghana great Abedi Pele. “We must fight, not just for us, but for the other teams that are not here.
“We feel we have a continent behind us and the whole of Africa behind us and that’s given us a lot of energy to fight more.”
Despite the euphoria of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time, Ghana manager Milan Rajevac has injury concerns about opening goalscorer Kevin-Prince Boatenglink text here , who was substituted in the second half because of a hamstring injury, while Ayew will miss the Uruguay match following his second yellow card in four games.
“This is the major problem we are facing for the game against Uruguay, the cards and the injuries,” said Serbian Rajevic.
“We will react tomorrow. There is a lot of work for our medical staff.”
BBC sport .
Heroes rise for Ghana Asamoah Gyan
