Mandela meets Ghana team after defeat
Reuters - Saturday 03 July 2010, 15:46
JOHANNESBURG - Nelson Mandela met Ghana's
football team on Saturday following their defeat by Uruguay on
penalties in the World Cup quarter-final.
The Mandela Foundation said Ghana, the only African team to
reach the last eight at this year's finals, had asked to meet
Mandela to pass on their respects after his great-granddaughter
Zenani Mandela, 13, died in a car crash last month.
Her death forced Mandela to cancel plans to attend the World
Cup's opening game between hosts South Africa and Mexico on June
11, dampening the mood at the start of the global spectacle.
"Nelson Mandela was introduced to members of the Black Stars
football team and their manager, coach and technical team at his
house in (Johannesburg)," the Foundation said in a statement.
Former South African President Mandela, 91, had on Friday
sent wishes of goodwill to Ghana ahead of their clash with
Uruguay which the Black Stars, bidding to become the first
African team to reach the last four, lost 4-2 in a shootout.
"They represented the continent well and although they did
not qualify for the semi-finals they can return home with their
heads held high," the Mandela Foundation said.
It added that Ghana's players and officials also separately
met Mandela's ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and other
members of the family.
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