Algeria-Ghana fan reactions
Algerian fans had little to cheer about as their team went down to Europeans Slovenia in a group C encounter of the football world cup played at Pretoria. Hundreds of fans gathered in Marseille on the Mediterranean coast of France to back their team in their crucial tie, yet their stay ended in bitter disappointment as a limp performance by their team in the second half cost them the match.
The Africans were reduced to ten men when Abdelkader Ghezzal was sent off in the 71st minute, but the worse was yet to come as goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi gifted Slovenia a goal, fumbling Robert Koren's harmless looking shot six minutes later. Until then the fans were cheering every move made by their team and were chanting slogans in their favour hoping against hope that their team would pull of a special win.
One of the fans who claimed he was passionate about the game remarked that his team did really well in the first half and he was expecting them to score a goal then, and in the second half his players were too tired. Another fan by the name of Mohamed Bouatrous said that he and his fellow fans were disappointed with the defeat against Slovenia. he added that their team has two more matches to go including the upcoming game with England and the US, and prays they win. the hopes of fans have not died yet as they feel that Algerians never give up.
Meanwhile there were scenes of jubilation all across Ghana, as the Africans went past Serbia by a solitary goal in a group D encounter. The fans that had traveled to the venue of the game poured out of Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria after their team sealed a win. The victory was sealed by the Africans after an 85th minute penalty from Asamoah Gyan, the Ghanaians enjoyed their rare win in a top flight competition thoroughly claiming that big things lied ahead for the national team in the World cup.
Boukiri Booksem a fan based in Ghana thinks that his team is going to cruise through to the next round by scoring a two-nil win over the Australians and securing a draw against three time world champions Germany regarded by many as one of the strongest contenders for the trophy. He added that his team knew how to win and the countrymen were praying for the glittering gold trophy to arrive home.
Ghana won despite the absence of their injured inspiration Michael Essien in midfield, and the victory provided Africa with their first win in the tournament. Another fan Tracy claimed that the World cup was going to stay in their continent, as her team of support was the first African team to win the match so she thinks the World Cup is going to stay in Africa for the first time. She and many other fans feel that the fact that South Africa is hosting the World Cup this time around, means that the status of football would really increase in the country.
The game was filled with action off the field too, as the Vuvuzela’s provided deafening noise and created a festive atmosphere, in typical African way. The music and spirit finally helped light up a dour encounter and the real action started when Serbia had Aleksander Lukovic sent off for a second bookable offence in the 74th minute. A handball by substitute Zdravko Kuzmanovic led to the decisive penalty kick which Gyan, who had missed several chances, converted with confidence.
For the Serbian fans making an appearance at the World cup was a dream come true and many enjoyed the game despite their nation’s defeat. "It was awesome, tight but good at the end, but unfortunately we didn't score at the end, it was close. I still don't think the red card was right, but you know how it is," claimed a Serb fan. The Europeans are making their maiden appearance as an independent nation at the World Cup and are looking to lay to rest the ghosts of a dismal last appearance in 2006. Serbia and Montenegro's 2006 campaign in Germany saw them lose all three group games including a 6-0 mauling by Argentina, fans can only hope that things would be different this time.
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