Hands On The Wheel, Emil!
My big sports trip this year took place in June and July when I made my first visit to South Africa to cover the World Cup football finals for the Voice of America. In fact, it was probably the biggest sports trip I’ve made in my 22+ years at VOA, based on the historical significance […]
More Madiba Magic
I was in Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg for the World Cup final 11 July between Spain and the Netherlands. More than 84,000 fans were in attendance that night, and it seemed like every one of them was blowing a vuvuzela. I wouldn’t say the match itself, though, was much to toot your horn over. […]
World Cup Finals Will Be All European
After the Netherlands’ victory over Uruguay, Sunday’s World Cup finals will be a battle between two European teams – for the second year in a row. The Dutch are hoping to secure their first-ever World Cup victory. Also, Ghana’s Black Stars return home to a hero’s welcome in Accra.
Tears For Ghana, Tears For Africa
I think one of my lasting memories of this World Cup here in South Africa will be Asamoah Gyan crying as he walked off the pitch at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg. Gyan and “The Black Stars” of Ghana had just suffered an agonizing quarterfinal loss to Uruguay on penalty kicks. Gyan had a chance […]
Excitement as World Cup Quarterfinals Approach
Between Ghana attempting to become the first African team to reach the semis, and five-time World Cup champions Brazil taking on the thus-far-undefeated Dutch, Friday’s matches promise to be some of the most exciting we’ve had so far. Also, will President Jonathan’s suspension of the Nigerian team stand and what could it mean for the […]
Where No African Team Has Gone Before
Ghana hopes to beat Uruguay Friday to become the first African team in history to reach the World Cup semifinals, and many Africans across the continent have adopted the Black Stars as their own.
Rustenburg Reflections
As I sat in the media tribune in Rustenburg during the Ghana-USA match, it did strike me as a bit odd to see former U.S. President Bill Clinton sitting right next to Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones. But, then again, maybe it was appropriate, because Royal Bafokeng Stadium was ROCKIN’ for most of the […]
What Does Saturday Hold for Ghana and the US?
Daybreak Africa’s Mark Ouma joins us to look ahead to Saturday’s US-Ghana face-off and to talk about what the World Cup has meant for South Africa
Looking Ahead to Wednesday’s Matches
Is there still hope for Africa’s World Cup teams?
Can Ghana’s Black Stars hold their own against Germany to keep Africa’s World Cup hopes alive? Also, a look at the chaos within the French camp and whether it could benefit South Africa.
