Mandela writes of his ‘great pleasure’ to see Ghana reach World Cup quarterfinals

Mandela sends message of support to Ghana team

JOHANNESBURG — Nelson Mandela has called it a “great pleasure” to see Ghana in the World Cup quarterfinals.

In a letter sent Friday to the president of the Ghana Football Association, Kwesi Nyantakyi, South Africa’s former president wrote “on the historic occasion of the first FIFA World Cup to be hosted in Africa, it is a great pleasure to see that Ghana has reached the quarterfinals.”

According to his foundation, Mandela wrote “we join everybody on the continent … in wishing you success in the tournament going forward.”

The Black Stars were the only African team to reach the second round of the continent’s first World Cup.

They plays Uruguay in Johannesburg on Friday night in a quarterfinal match.