Ghanaians disappointed over team's ouster from World Cup

Accra, June 27 (IANS) Ghanaian football fans Thursday expressed disappointment over the failure of the national team 'Black Stars' to make it into the round of 16 in the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Ghana for the first time in their World Cup history failed to reach the second round following 1-2 defeat to Portugal in the final Group G match in Brasilia Thursday, reports Xinhua.

The Black Stars, quarterfinalist four years ago finished bottom in Group G with one point following defeat to the United States and a draw with Germany.

Both Ghana and Portugal went into the game with a slim chance of making it to the last 16, but were relying on the outcome of the other match in Recife.

Ghana were expected to qualify from the group which included Germany and the US following their sterling performance in the last edition of the tournament in South Africa four years ago.

However, the Black Stars disappointed their fans with an average performance throughout the competition.

Hundreds of the football fans who defied the day's drizzle to watch the game at one of the numerous fun parks in the national capital, Accra, were disheartened following the defeat.

Disappointment and dejection were seen in their faces moments after the referee sounded the whistle to end proceedings.

Some of the fans are calling for the head of the national team coach Kwesi Appiah and the overhauling of the squad to make an impact in subsequent contests.

"I' m disappointed in the whole thing," said Takyi Anaman, a football fan here.

"The boys tried their best though but I think it is too little too late," he said.

Another fan, Wiredu Isaac Darko, believed the team did their best even though it could not propel them to reach the next stage of the competition.

"The players have put in their efforts, they were eager to win but then Portugal was much more serious from my point of view," said Darko.

"If the coach is able to bring the boys together to have the cohesion they used to have in 2006 and 2010, I think the next World Cup we are going to do well," he said.

Despite the disappointing run, Ghana has something to be proud of as Black Stars skipper Asamoah Gyan is now the highest scoring African in World Cup finals history.

The Black Stars captain edged legend Roger Milla to the record with six goals thus one ahead of the Cameroonian.

--IANS/CMC

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