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Disappointment, frustration and pain were written on the faces of teeming Ghanaian soccer fans following the national team's loss to the United States at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil Monday night.
The fans who thronged one of the fun parks in the capital Accra to watch the game, expressed disappointment over the Black Stars' defeat to the Americans in their opening Group G game, reports Xinhua.
The US defeated Ghana 2-1 to record a famous victory over the Black Stars. The result is a sweet revenge for the Americans who have on two occasions lost to Ghana.
Going into the game at the Estadio Das Dunas stadium in Natal, Ghanaians were optimistic that their side would make mincemeat of the Americans, after having gone through a successful fine-tuning in Miami, US, ahead of the global soccer glitteri.
Thousands of soccer fans converged at the popular Oxford Street in Osu, Accra to watch the crucial encounter on a large screen courtesy of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, headline sponsors of the Black Stars and Tigo, a mobile telecom company.
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Parading like skipper Asamoah Gyan, Kwadwo Asamoah, Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari, the Black Stars went into the game as favorites, after running over the US in group stage in the 2006 World Cup and in the round of 16 four years ago.
The fans, clad in T-shirts, cups and hats designed in the red, gold, green and black star colours of the nation were beaming with confidence ahead of the match. They were optimistic the Stars would give a bloody nose to the US side after the cagey encounter.
But that was not to be, as the US inflicted a painful 2-1 defeat to the West African football powerhouse after more than 90 minutes of power-packed soccer action.
After the game, the once vociferous fans walked quietly along the busy street to their various homes, with dejection, frustration and pain, written all over their faces.
"I am so surprised. I mean they have disappointed us. I just can't believe it. We supposed to win them three-nil or three-one and they have beaten us. Just look around, we don't know what to do again," said Kobina, a fan.
"I was wishing at least draw is OK. But I think this people try to take a revenge. The rest of the match I don't think Ghana will win. Even this people we can't beat them, I don't think we can beat the rest, Germany, we can't, so no hope," another fan Cecilia Awuni.
However some believed the team played well and deserved some plaudits, others blamed coach James Kwesi Appiah.
"What I will say is, it is a game. We tried hard and made our possible effort. Even though we lost, I believe we did very well," said Desmond, a fan.
Ghana will play Germany in the second round of matches Saturday.
