Ghana take aim at South Africa after big Cup win

Ghana take aim at South Africa after big Cup win - Ghana's Black Stars are keeping their feet on the ground ahead of Tuesday's decisive Africa Cup of Nations Group C clash against South Africa after a dramatic win over Algeria.

On Friday, skipper Asamoah Gyan returned from a bout of malaria to sink tournament favourites Algeria in stoppage time in Mongomo as the Black Stars bounced back from a 2-1 loss to Senegal with a 1-0 success against the continent's best team.

Ghana forward Asamoah Gyan (L) scores a goal past Algeria defender Carl Medjani during the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations group C match in Mongomo, Equatorial Guinea on January 23, 2015 (AFP Photo/Carl De Souza) 

A win over South Africa on Tuesday will guarantee the four-time African champions passage to the last-eight of the competition, while a draw and Algeria failing to beat Senegal on the same night could also get them past the group stage.

However, Ghana coach Avram Grant said his "new generation" of Black Stars aim to do the business against a South African team who have impressed him.

"Nothing has been decided yet in this group," insisted former Chelsea manager Grant.

"Yes, we may have beaten the number one team in Africa, but we now face South Africa, who qualified for this tournament ahead of a big team like Nigeria.

"They played very well in their first game even though they eventually lost (3-1) to Algeria. They are a fantastic team.

"We are a young team who have shown we do not give up and so we will come into any game to win it."

The returning Gyan proved to be Ghana's hero despite admitting to having "some physical problems", and now the striker is looking ahead to the next game.

"South Africa have shown they are a very good side right from the qualifiers and so we do not expect an easy match against them," he said.

"It was a team effort against Algeria, everybody working for everybody, and we will count on this again against South Africa."

Meanwhile, Marseille star Andre Ayew declared that Ghana should not be written off as genuine contenders at this Cup of Nations despite not yet finding their best form.

"This is not the best Ghana, many of us like Gyan and I are not 100 percent fit, but we can do a lot more," he said.

"Even after the win against Algeria, we cannot afford to get over-confident. We're happy, but won't take anything for granted. Algeria is past and next is South Africa. It will be a very tough battle on Tuesday.”

He added: "Expectations back at home must now have risen, but Ghana have always dealt with the pressure even though it could be difficult."

The Black Stars last won the Cup of Nations in 1982, although they have reached the last four of the previous four editions, even losing in the final to Egypt in 2010 in Angola. ( AFP )

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Pakistan street children return to rapturous welcome

Pakistan street children return to rapturous welcome - Pakistan's street children footballers returned home Tuesday to cheers from thousands of fans after clinching the bronze medal in Brazil, with captain Sameer Ahmed hailing the "once in a lifetime" experience.

Competing for the first time in the Street Child World Cup, the Pakistanis hammered title-holders India 13-0 in their first match before beating Kenya and Mauritius and tying with the United States to top their group.

Pakistani players celebrate a goal against India during the second edition of the Street Child World Cup in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on April 1, 2014

They squeezed past the Philippines 3-2 in the quarter-finals before losing to Burundi 3-4 in the semi-finals, but beat the US 3-2 on penalties in the third-place play-off to cap a remarkable tournament for the rookies.

Around 4,000 people gathered at Karachi airport to welcome the children back home in an overwhelming display normally reserved for the country's cricketers, Pakistan's main representatives in international sports.

"We were unknown kids before this World Cup, but after seeing such a big crowd I am very happy that people now know us," said Ahmed.

"We had never thought that we will go to Brazil, we just heard the name of Brazil which is famous for football.

"Our representation in the event and finishing third has proved that there is enough hidden talent of football in our streets and the only need is to unearth that talent," he added.

For Pakistan's leading goalscorer Raziq Mushtaq, 15, the win over rivals India was particularly sweet. 

"India beat us in cricket World Twenty20 but we exacted the revenge in football and that win over India gave us the confidence to do well in the tournament," said Mushtaq, who hit the back of the net eight times against India and scored 18 goals overall.

The children, many of whom were former drug addicts or members of gangs linked to Karachi's ethnic and political violence, were rehabilitated by the non-profit Azad Foundation.

Coach Abdul Rashid praised the team's commitment, and said the third-place finish was a result of the hard training they had been putting in since October.

"They played with great passion," said Rashid. "They proved they had talent and we groomed them for the World Cup."

He said the tournament also proved that Pakistan, currently ranked 158 in FIFA rankings, could do bigger things on the world stage.

"It is now up to us to unearth the hidden talent which can go places and make Pakistan a bigger footballing nation," he said.

FIFA initiated the tournament in 2010, with the first edition held in South Africa and the second in Rio de Janeiro ahead of the World Cup that begins in June. ( AFP News )

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