Kumasi, Feb.8, GNA - Officials and players of Black Stars, the national senior football team arrived to a rousing welcome at the Kumasi Airport on Friday to battle it out with the Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire for the third place position in the ongoing Ghana 2008 26th MTN Africa Cup Of Nations (CAN) soccer fiesta.

The Stars, who landed at the airport around 1615 were met by the members of the Kumasi Venue Local Organizing Committee (KVLOC), soccer fans including members of the Nation-wide Supporters, National Supporters Union and school children.

The fans clad in national colours and holding miniature national flags danced to Panlogo and brass band music amidst cheers of congratulation as the players and the official led by Coach Claude Le Roy boarded the bus to move to town.

They were driven through some of the principal streets in the Metropolis where people rushed from their offices and shops to welcome them. "You could hear them shouting 'Agogo, Agogo" as the bus drove by". The crowd thickened up as they moved to the Asafo market area and the Central Business District at Adum where the streets were blocked up and trading activities came to a halt with the people jumping to see their faces in the bus. It was very delightful with people spreading their cloths on the street with others waving them with white handkerchiefs and national colours indicating the support and love they have for them.

When the team arrived at the Golden Tulip City Hotel where they would lodge, Madam Patricia Appiagyei, the Metropolitan Chief Executive told newsmen that it was the wish of the people in Kumasi to host them right from the commencement of the competition but this did not happen. She said Ghanaians especially those in the Metropolis were very happy and satisfied with the overall performance of the team and expressed the hope that they would give a good account of themselves when they lock horns with the La Cote d'Ivoire for the third place tomorrow, Saturday February 2 at the local Baba Yara Sports Stadium. The team, which lost 0-1 to the Indomitable Lions in the semi-final match at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra later set out for a training session at the Sports Stadium.