A game between Germany and Ghana in South Africa would on most days be classified as a neutral match. However, one look at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg on Wednesday night, and it was pretty apparent who the ‘home’ side were and who were the ‘away’ team.
With the African challenge all but over, the South African pubic have now ‘adopted’ the continent’s only nation in the knockout rounds as their own and even the players and coach of the West African nation are taken aback by this great show of support.
“Tonight the whole of Africa is cheering us on,” Ghana’s attacking midfielder Sulley Muntari said after the match. “This is a great success for African football.”
Mesut Ozil struck a thunderous left-footer on the hour mark to secure a 1-0 win for Germany, but the applause for an appalling miss by the German attacking midfielder earlier in the game elicited a greater roar than for the magnificently executed goal.
Every yellow card flashed to the Ghana players was greeted with loud boos ringing around the stadium, while a caution to the Germans sent the fans into a delirious tizzy.
Ghana came close on many occasions but like their previous two game, when both their goals came from the spot, the forwards failed to make the most of the incisive play of the midfielders especially Kevin-Prince Boateng — whose every step-over and cheeky pass was greeted loudly by the fans.
Ghana’s Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac added that the support of the South African public would stand them in good stead as they lock horns against the United States in the Round of 16.
“I hope the majority of South Africans will continvue to support us... I hope we will benefit from massive support here in South Africa.”
Despite a record six African teams in the group stage, Ghana are the only side from the continent in the pre-quarters with Algeria, Cameroon, Nigeria and hosts South Africa already out.
Ivory Coast are all but out and will need to overturn a nine-goal differential to keep slim their hopes alive when they meet North Korea on Friday.