Ghana's national football team has arrived back home from the World Cup in South Africa to a rapturous welcome.

加纳国家足球队已离开南非世界杯并返回故乡，受到故乡人民的热烈欢迎。

Ghana's president has urged people not to be disappointed with the Black Stars

Thousands of dancing and singing fans welcomed the players - known as the Black Stars - at Accra's airport.

"You've really held high the flag of Ghana and the entire African continent," Deputy¹ Sports Minister Nii Nortey Duah told the players.

Ghana, the only African team to progress beyond the group stage, went out to Uruguay in the quarter-final.

It is the first time the World Cup has been played in Africa, and many had hoped an African squad²（小队） would progress to the semi-finals.

Ghana were drawing 1-1 with Uruguay when in the final moments of extra time striker Asamoah Gyan missed a penalty³ kick（点球） awarded after Uruguay's Luis Suarez blocked a goal-bound shot with his hand.

The Black Stars then lost to the South Americans in a penalty shoot-out.

Captain's pledge⁴

There were spontaneous⁵（自发的，自然的） shouts of joy at Accra's aiport as the plane with the Black Stars landed late on Monday evening.

Football fans, many of whom had started arriving hours before the team's expected arrival, waved Ghana's national flags and blasted⁶ vuvuzelas（呜呜祖拉） to greet their heroes in a carnival⁷（狂欢节） atmosphere.

"The Stars fought gallantly⁸（勇敢地，漂亮地） , not only making Ghana proud, but the entire African continent," teacher Felicia Acheampong was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Ghana's captain Stephen Appiah said: "We did our best but luck was not on our side but we'll go to Brazil in 2014 to be major contenders（竞争者） ."

President John Evans Atta Mills earlier urged Ghanaians not to "nail" the players despite their disappointment at the controversial（有争议的） loss.

"We should rather continue to support them and show appreciation⁹ for what they have achieved," he said.

"In Friday's match, there was going to be only one winner and unfortunately, it was not the Black Stars."

'Dream come true'

On Sunday, crowds gathered to cheer the team as they toured Johannesburg.

On Saturday, the team met Nelson Mandela's ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in Soweto, before visiting Mr Mandela at his home in Johannesburg.

"They represented the continent well and although they did not qualify¹⁰ for the semi-finals they can return home with their heads held high," said Mr Mandela's office after the meeting.

Leaving his house, the players described meeting the Nobel laureate（得奖者，桂冠诗人） .

"I am very happy to meet a great man like President Mandela. I was there with him, shaking his hand. I'm so happy to meet him face to face," said goalkeeper Richard Kingson.

Kevin-Prince Boateng said: "It's a dream come true, you know. It is very, very good for us. We feel more happy and feel good that we have met this man. He is a legend."