Ghana celebrate after striking blow for Africa

COLOGNE, June 18 (Reuters) The hardest task facing World Cup debutants Ghana will be bringing themselves down from the high that followed yesterday's 2-0 win over Czech Republic.

''We coaches always have the same problem,'' said Ratomir Dujkovic after watching his team outplay the Czechs in virtually all areas in their Group E match at the Rhein-Energie-Stadion.

''If we lose a game, then we have to work hard to up the morale in the team and when we win we have to try just as hard to calm everybody down,'' adde the Serbian.

While their first triumph was vital to Ghana's chances of making it past the group stage, it was also described by the players as an important statement for Africa, whose teams had failed to manage a single win at this year's tournament.

''It's for the team, for the country and for all the African teams in the world,'' influential midfielder Michael Essien insisted after picking up the Man of the Match award.

''Of course, we knew that the other African sides had not been doing that well,'' said Asamoah Gyan, scorer of the opening goal.

''That definitely helped motivate us and now hopefully there will be at least one African team in the second round.'' PLAYED WELL Although Ghana were the first African side at these finals to leave the pitch as winners, the continent's other World Cup qualifiers have played well without reaping the same reward.

The most obvious example are Ivory Coast, widely considered to be Africa's strongest team but finding themselves in Group C which is arguably the tournament's toughest.

Despite two passionate and committed performances against Argentina and Netherlands, the Ivorians lost by a single goal on each occasion and will be disappointed to finish their campaign with a meaningless game against Serbia&Montenegro.

In Group G Togo had looked on course to register Africa's opening win when they took a deserved lead in their first game against South Korea last Tuesday.

But the dismissal of captain Jean-Paul Yaovi Abalo Dosseh helped the Koreans turn the game around with two second half goals, leaving Togo needing a strong finish in their remaining group games against Switzerland and France.

Unfancied Angola are also still in with a chance after holding Mexico to an unlikely 0-0 draw in Group D and could make the second round on goal difference if they beat Iran in their final group match and Portugal beat the Mexicans.

Tunisia remain unbeaten in Group H, although their 2-2 draw with Saudi Arabia seemed to say as much about the progress of Asian football as it did about the African game.

The Tunisians needed an injury time equaliser to keep their chances alive ahead of tricky encounters with Spain and Ukraine.

WILD CELEBRATIONS Whatever happens to their fellow Africans in the remaining group matches, Ghana certainly suggested on Saturday that the continent deserves at least one representative in the final 16.

If the Black Stars follow their display against the Czechs with a win over the US on Thursday their progress is assured.

Such an achievement would no doubt see further wild celebrations in Ghana's capital Accra, which was already awash with delirious supporters following yesterday's final whistle.

After hearing calls for his dismissal following the team's opening defeat to Italy, though, Dujkovic was never likely to be among those getting too carried away.

''Us coaches always have our bags packed ready to go,'' he said with a wry smile. ''It's logical in Africa that after a defeat everybody wants the coach's head. Now that we've won I'm suddenly a hero in Ghana. It's an emotional place!'' REUTERS AY BST1754