JOHANNESBURG - Ghana, uplifted by the enthusiasm of an entire one billion-strong continent, will be bidding to become the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup when they play Uruguay at Soccer City on Friday.

Ghana's 'Black Stars' are the lone flagwaver for Africa in the first World Cup staged on the continent and there is an emotional outpouring of support for them against one-time soccer powers Uruguay.

Ghana became only the third African team, along with Cameroon (1990) and Senegal (2002), to reach the last eight at the World Cup when it downed the United States 2-1 in Rustenburg last Saturday.