Africa unites behind Ghana's quarter-final bid

AFP - With Ghana's World Cup quarterfinal against Uruguay fast approaching, football fans across Africa are joining to support the continent's last remaining team in the tournament.

Mamadou Kalidou Bangoura is president of one of 15 Ghana fan clubs recently formed in Guinean capital Conakry and says local preachers have been asked to say a few words for the Black Stars at Friday prayers.

Bangoura's club has also appealed to traditional religious leaders, who advised them to donate two red roosters to a pregnant woman to secure Ghana a 2-0 victory at Johannesburg's Soccer City on Friday evening.

Charlie Camara, another Ghana supporter in Guinea, said people would give alms to the poor to ensure victory.

South Africa's Communist Party youth league declared that the "Young Reds fully support Black Stars.''

"Even though South Africa has exited the World Cup competition, we support the Black Stars of Africa as they are now representing the continent as a whole,'' the body said in a statement.

South Africa last week became the first host to go out in the first round.

Nigeria, Cameroon, Algeria and Ivory Coast have also been eliminated.

South Africa's governing African National Congress hosted Ghana football federation officials at a lunch in Johannesburg on Thursday. Ghana football federation president Kwesi Nyantakyi said warring factions across the continent have put aside their differences to support the team.

Nyantakyi said that Ghana's performance as only the third African team to reach the quarterfinals had united the continent.

Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002 both lost their quarterfinals.