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FIFA 2010 World Cup: Nelson Mandela meets Ghanaian team

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FIFA 2010 World Cup: Nelson Mandela meets Ghanaian team

It can be safely stated that the Black Stars proved themselves as a team that shone brightly in the tournament. No one really expected the outcome back then especially after their star midfielder and captain the Michael Essien failed to participate in the tournament.

The 27 year old Chelsea player had an injured knee and early in the mid of May stated that he would not be ready in time to participate for the tournament. The saddened nation still looked up brightly to their team hoping that they would achieve glory and bring it back home. The Ghanaian team though was unable to bring back the World Cup Trophy; still they bought back glory to a hero’s welcome.

The Black Stars started off the campaign in their home continent against Serbia, a team of impregnable defence.  They defeated them 1-0 and then encountered Australia while drawing at 1-1 with them. They battled with the ruthless Germans and despite the 1-0 defeat gave an overall good performance.

In the end they finished second in their Group and therefore proceeded to the Last 16 stage where they faced the USA who they thwarted 2-1. After defeating the Americans they combated with the Uruguayans and after a controversial and sensational match were beaten on penalties.

The match was going up for a draw at 1-1, when in extra time Ghana were awarded a penalty. After a tussle in the D the ball was headed in to the net but Luis Suarez came to Uruguay’s assistance and handled the ball. He was given a red card and Ghana was given a penalty shot. Asamoah Gyan took the penalty and missed; hitting the top bar and the ball got deflected outwards. The match eventually went to penalties and Ghana lost 4-2.

Though their end in tournament was controversial many believe that the referee should have awarded Ghana with the penalty. Still the fans and the nation are extremely proud of the effort and hope that the next time will bear the fruits of success.

Nelson Mandela, the former South African President who was supposed to attend the opening ceremony and in fact inaugurate told that he was extremely happy with the performance of the fellow African nation.

After Ghana lost the quarter final to the Uruguay, the 91 year old world icon Mandela wrote in a letter to the President Ghana’s Football Association, Kwesi Nayantakyi, that every South African was proud of their achievement and he personally was extremely happy for Ghana.

This happened to be the African continent’s first World Cup and Ghana were the only African team that shone in the tournament.

Nelson Mandela later also met the national team of Ghana and welcomed them to his country and told them that the African country had made all the countries extremely proud. He also told that despite losses and bad luck the team had proved themselves as a football threat and he looked forward to their performance in the future.

The legendary South African president stated in a letter he wrote earlier to the Black Stars, “We join everybody on the continent and in the Diaspora in wishing you success”.

Mandela along with his foundation too had kind words and appreciation for the success and performance of the club. Mandela stated, “They represented the continent well and although they did not qualify for the semi-finals they can return home with their heads held high”.

Mandela earlier had plans to attend the inaugurating event of the World Cup but could not due to the death of his granddaughter Zenani who was 13 years old. Earlier it was speculated that Mandela would not attend the programme as of ailing health in spite of requests by the FIFA President Sepp Blatter but he later asked him for 4 tickets and confirmed his entrance in the function.

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