20100706
AFRICANEWS

Thousands of fans gave the Black Stars a heroic welcome at the Kotoka International Airport on Monday night. The players were greeted with drumming and dancing as they walked on a red carpet upon their arrival. Senior government officials and sports personalities were on call to welcome them.


"You've really held high the flag of Ghana and the entire African continent," Deputy Sports Minister Nii Nortey Duah told the players.

Football fans, many of whom had started arriving hours before the team's expected arrival, waved Ghana's national flags and blasted vuvuzelas to greet their heroes in a carnival atmosphere.

"The Stars fought gallantly, not only making Ghana proud, but the entire African continent," teacher Felicia Acheampong was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Ghana's captain Stephen Appiah said: "We did our best but luck was not on our side but we'll go to Brazil in 2014 to be major contenders."

President John Evans Atta Mills earlier urged Ghanaians not to "nail" the players despite their disappointment at the controversial loss.

"We should rather continue to support them and show appreciation for what they have achieved," he said.

"In Friday's match, there was going to be only one winner and unfortunately, it was not the Black Stars."