Before the Black Stars kicked off against Germany in their final Group D match at Soccer City on Wednesday, there was every likelihood that all six African teams taking part in the first World Cup in Africa would fail to make it past the group stage.
Despite losing 1-0 to the Germans though, Ghana succeeded where hosts South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, Cameroon and almost certainly Ivory Coast have failed by qualifying for the last 16 where they face a winnable match against the United States in Rustenburg on Saturday with a quarter-final place the prize.
The problem is, they don't do that very often.
Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac was in no doubt where the improvement is needed following Wednesday's match.
"We held our own and played very well and created plenty of chances - we had some wonderful chances to score - but we had a bit of bad luck and we failed to take them.
"Perhaps we lacked a bit of concentration. I hope we can score real proper goals going forward and take our chances," he told reporters afterwards.
"And now we are through to the last 16, I hope the majority of South Africans will continue to support us. I hope we will benefit from massive support here in South Africa."
Dede Ayew, who missed chances of his own, admitted: "It was a very difficult match but we fought and it was enough to get us through. Yes, we wasted some chances, but the important thing is that we went through."
Wednesday's game was the first in the World Cup with two siblings on opposite sides, with Ghana's Kevin-Prince Boateng lining up against his younger half-brother Jerome.
"It was a very emotional day for me," said Kevin-Prince, who represented Germany at junior level before opting for Ghana this year. "I thought about it all day, and it turned out well because although we lost, we went through and that was what mattered most."
