体坛英语新闻：Ghanaians disappointed over Black Stars loss

ACCRA, Ghana, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Ghanaian soccer fans on Thursday expressed disappointment over the failure of the senior national team Black Stars to make it into the round of 16 in the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Ghana for the first time in its World Cup history failed to reach the second round following 1-2 defeat to Portugal in the final Group G match in Brasilia on Thursday.

The Black Stars, quarter-finalist four years ago finished bottom in Group G with one point following defeat to the United States and a draw with Germany.

Both Ghana and Portugal went into the game with a slim chance of making headway to the last 16, but were relying on the outcome of the other match in Recife.

Ghana was expected to qualify from the group which included Germany and U.S.A following its sterling performance in the last edition of the tournament in South Africa four years ago.

However, the Black Stars disappointed its teeming fans with an average performance throughout the competition.

Hundreds of the soccer fans who defied the day' s drizzle to watch the game at one of the numerous fun parks in the national capital, Accra, were disheartened following the defeat.

Disappointment and dejection were seen in their faces moments after the referee sounded the whistle to end proceedings.

Some of the fans are calling for the head of the national team coach Kwesi Appiah and the overhauling of the squad to make an impact in subsequent contests.

"I' m disappointed in the whole thing," said Takyi Anaman, a soccer fan in Accra.

"The boys tried their best though but I think it is too little too late," he said.

Another fan, Wiredu Isaac Darko, believed the team did their best even though it could not propel them to reach the next stage of the competition.

"The players have put in their efforts, they were eager to win but then Portugal was much more serious from my point of view," said Darko.

"If the coach is able to bring the boys together to have the cohesion they used to have in 2006 and 2010, I think the next World Cup we are going to do well," he said.

Despite the disappointing run, Ghana has something to be proud of as Black Stars skipper Asamoah Gyan is now the highest scoring African in World Cup finals history.

The Black Stars captain edged legend Roger Milla to the record with six goals thus one ahead of the Cameroonian.