Accra, Oct. 10, GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Monday sent a congratulatory message to the national football team, the Black Stars for their emphatic 4-0 victory over the national team of Cape Verde in the last of the World Cup group qualifying matches played on Saturday October 8, 2005 at Praia, Cape Verde. It said "the victory in far away Cape Verde, well deserved as it was, has finally secured for Ghana a ticket to the World Cup finals for the first time in the history of football in this country".

A statement signed by Mr Bede Ziedeng, Acting General Secretary of the NDC copied to the GNA Sports said "the feat, sweet as it is, has not been achieved on a silver platter, but has taken years of painstaking preparations and hard work through the exploits of the Starlets, Satellites and the Meteors before the senior side finally reaping the fruits of our labour on Saturday." The Black Stars have indeed brought a lot of honour to this nation by this spectacular victory, which has been a long cherished dream and that the time for all to be proud of their achievement.

Mr Ziedeng said the NDC therefore joins all patriotic and well-meaning Ghanaians in celebrating this victory and also calls on all Ghanaians to give the team a rousing welcome on their return home. The statement said it is the expectation of the NDC that this wonderful performance of the team will be reflected in the World Cup fiesta in Germany in 2006 when they defend the national flag. "The team should therefore not rest on their oars but work harder in order to put up a good performance if not a better one than those exhibited by previous African countries that participated in the World Cup.

It said the NDC also wishes to use the opportunity to congratulate the national teams of Angola, Togo and Cote d'Ivoire who join Ghana as first time qualifiers of African countries to the World Cup competition and hope that they will defend the impressive legacy left behind by Cameroon and Nigeria whilst urging Tunisia to endeavour to improve upon their previous performance by being worthy ambassadors of African soccer. "For now we say Ayekoo to the Black Stars, Well done boys, Our prayers are with you and we have every hope that you can make it".