The 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC) would like to congratulate Ghana on being the first African country to qualify for the FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa next year.

It is fitting that the first country to gain independence on the African continent is also the first country from Africa to qualify for the first World Cup on African soil (South Africa, as host, qualified automatically).

OC CEO Dr Danny Jordaan said: “I am overjoyed that one of the continent’s greatest teams will be playing in Africa’s first FIFA World Cup. A long standing symbol of hope on the continent, Ghana is sure to win many fans in South Africa. We hope that they will go far in the tournament and do Africa proud.”

Ghana qualified after beating Sudan 2-0 in Sunday’s World Cup qualifier, topping Group D. The top team from each of the five groups will secure a place in the finals.

Ghana has always provided South Africa’s bid to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ with invaluable support in the form of football legend and event ambassador Abedi Pele. Pele joined other great African stars such as George Weah, Roger Milla, Kalusha Bwalya and Philemon Masinga as 2010 bid ambassadors.

During the bid Pele was quoted as saying that a FIFA World Cup in South Africa would bring the "greatest benefit to African football".

The Black Stars are Africa’s second most successful team of all time and have won the African Cup of Nations four times in 1963, 1965, 1978, and 1982.

This is the second time the Ghanaians have qualified for a FIFA World Cup – the first being in 2006 where they made it through to the second round.

For more information contact:

Name: Rich Mkhondo

Organization: FIFA World Cup 2010

Email: media@2010oc.com

Phone: +27832010254

URL: http://www.FIFA.com