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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Ghana welcomes Black Star heroes | Ghana welcomes Black Star heroes |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Ghana's national football team has arrived back home from the World Cup in South Africa to a rapturous welcome. | Ghana's national football team has arrived back home from the World Cup in South Africa to a rapturous welcome. |
| Thousands of dancing and singing fans welcomed the players - known as the Black Stars - at Accra's airport. | Thousands of dancing and singing fans welcomed the players - known as the Black Stars - at Accra's airport. |
| "You've really held high the flag of Ghana and the entire African continent," Deputy Sports Minister Nii Nortey Duah told the players. | "You've really held high the flag of Ghana and the entire African continent," Deputy Sports Minister Nii Nortey Duah told the players. |
| Ghana, the only African team to progress beyond the group stage, went out to Uruguay in the quarter-final. | Ghana, the only African team to progress beyond the group stage, went out to Uruguay in the quarter-final. |
| It is the first time the World Cup has been played in Africa, and many had hoped an African squad would progress to the semi-finals. | It is the first time the World Cup has been played in Africa, and many had hoped an African squad would progress to the semi-finals. |
| Hundreds of fans cheered as Ghana's Black Stars players walked up a red carpet laid on the tarmac from their scheduled flight from South Africa. | Hundreds of fans cheered as Ghana's Black Stars players walked up a red carpet laid on the tarmac from their scheduled flight from South Africa. |
| They were also formally greeted by a welcoming party of ministers, deputy ministers and football officials. With music, whistles and vuvuzelas blaring, it was a very joyous and celebratory occasion. | They were also formally greeted by a welcoming party of ministers, deputy ministers and football officials. With music, whistles and vuvuzelas blaring, it was a very joyous and celebratory occasion. |
| Ghana captain Stephen Appiah took the microphone and said: "I'm not a prophet, but we will surely qualify for 2014 and be there [in Brazil] as a contender." | Ghana captain Stephen Appiah took the microphone and said: "I'm not a prophet, but we will surely qualify for 2014 and be there [in Brazil] as a contender." |
| His attitude and the positive vibrations from the fans make up for the blues most Ghanaians have been feeling since their last-minute defeat to Uruguay on Friday. And each player got his own cheer from the crowds as they stepped aboard their coach to leave the airport. | |
| African viewpoint: Black Star blues | African viewpoint: Black Star blues |
| Ghana were drawing 1-1 with Uruguay when in the final moments of extra time striker Asamoah Gyan missed a penalty kick awarded after Uruguay's Luis Suarez blocked a goal-bound shot with his hand. | Ghana were drawing 1-1 with Uruguay when in the final moments of extra time striker Asamoah Gyan missed a penalty kick awarded after Uruguay's Luis Suarez blocked a goal-bound shot with his hand. |
| The Black Stars then lost to the South Americans in a penalty shoot-out. | The Black Stars then lost to the South Americans in a penalty shoot-out. |
| There were spontaneous shouts of joy at Accra's airport as the plane with the Black Stars landed late on Monday evening. | There were spontaneous shouts of joy at Accra's airport as the plane with the Black Stars landed late on Monday evening. |
| 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. | 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. | "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." | 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. | 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. | "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." | "In Friday's match, there was going to be only one winner and unfortunately, it was not the Black Stars." |
| 'Dream come true' | 'Dream come true' |
| On Sunday, crowds gathered to cheer the team as they toured Johannesburg. | On Sunday, crowds gathered to cheer the team as they toured Johannesburg. |
| The Black Stars met former South African President Nelson Mandela | The Black Stars met former South African President Nelson Mandela |
| On Saturday, the team met Nelson Mandela's ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in Soweto, before visiting Mr Mandela at his home in Johannesburg. | On Saturday, the team met Nelson Mandela's ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in Soweto, before visiting Mr Mandela at his home in Johannesburg. |
| "They represented the continent well and although they did not qualify for the semi-finals they can return home with their heads held high," said Mr Mandela's office after the meeting. | "They represented the continent well and although they did not qualify for the semi-finals they can return home with their heads held high," said Mr Mandela's office after the meeting. |
| Leaving his house, the players described meeting the Nobel laureate. | Leaving his house, the players described meeting the Nobel laureate. |
| "I am very happy to meet a great man like President Mandela. I was there with him, shaking his hand. I'm so happy to meet him face to face," said goalkeeper Richard Kingson. | "I am very happy to meet a great man like President Mandela. I was there with him, shaking his hand. I'm so happy to meet him face to face," said goalkeeper Richard Kingson. |
| Kevin-Prince Boateng said: "It's a dream come true, you know. It is very, very good for us. We feel more happy and feel good that we have met this man. He is a legend." | Kevin-Prince Boateng said: "It's a dream come true, you know. It is very, very good for us. We feel more happy and feel good that we have met this man. He is a legend." |