School Reporters file stories on Sports Day - 1 July 2010 

School Reporters from across Africa have been reporting as part of the BBC News School Report Sports Day, joining hundreds of students across the UK to report on sport and, in particular, the South Africa 2010 World Cup!

Check out their reports below as they analyse the performance of the African nations in the tournament and cheer on Ghana ahead of their semi-final match.

Is God on Ghana's side?

Students from Headlines Educational Centre in Ghana have been reflecting on the Black Stars' success at the South Africa World Cup and asking the big question - 'is Ghana ready to face Uruguay?'.  The student reporters hope that God is on the side of their team on Friday.  Read an extract from the students' report below and listen in full using the link below.

'Take a closer look at the Ghana Black Stars.  There is something unique about the team that boosts their confidence.  This unique quality of the team keeps supporters hopeful that the team will be successful in the World Cup.  This is their belief in God and prayer.  The Black Stars are also very confident that their skills and their team work can take them further in this tournament.

The entire country devoted time during Sunday and Friday 'all night' vigil church services praying for success for the Black Stars.  Muslims prayed in their mosques too.  The traditionalists poured libation for the team.

It's also been said that the President of Ghana, Professor Atta Mills, regularly prays with the team and did so in the Black Stars' dressing room just before they came onto the field to face the USA.  It is quite common to see the players hold hands and pray before a game, at half time and when it ends - no matter what the score.

John Pantsil, the assistant captain of the Black Stars, has asked Ghanaians and the whole of Africa and all fans to pray for the Black Stars to win at the quarter finals match between Ghana and Uruguay.  1 July is a national holiday in Ghana - Republic Day - and has been dedicated as a national prayer day.  It is to seek God's intervention for success at the next day's match between Ghana and Uruguay.  It will be interesting to find out how much prayer is going on in Uruguay and who will God's favourite be - Ghana or Uruguay?'

The Headlines students also interviewed a teacher from their partner school, Anderson High School in the Shetland Islands, to find out what they thought about England's performance at the World Cup.

Listen to the phone interview below.

Tanzania World Cup special!

School Reporters at Miyuji Secondary School in Tanzania held a World Cup discussion to gather their thoughts on the tournament so far.  As you can hear in their report, they were full of praise for the South African preparations and the cultural opening ceremony but reserved harsh criticism for teams like Italy and France for not bringing younger players and, in France's case, for qualifying with a handball!

The students insisted on the need for better preparation for young players and discussed which players they would remember in the future and why.

South African students have their say on the 2010 World Cup!

Students from the three South African schools in the Global Classrooms Gathering partnership in Soshanguve also reported on their World Cup moments.  From the diski dance to the arrival of the World Cup trophy in their local area and even debating the value for money of holding the tournament at all, the students have had plenty to report on! 

Nigerian students get interactive and interview their Kenyan and UK partners

Students from the Connecting Classrooms Tinapa partnership in Abuja managed to get in touch with their partners in Kisumu in Kenya and in Hull in the UK to interview them about the World Cup.  Eniola, from Government Science Tecnical College in Garki, explains what they've been doing and how it felt.

'The FIFA 2010 World Cup has entered the quarter final stage.  One African nation - Ghana - also made it.  The whole of Africa is rooting for Ghana to go all the way to the finals and hopefully win the tournament for the very first time in the history of the World Cup.  Would that dream come to pass?  Only time will tell.  Nevertheless, may the best team win.

The BBC News School Reporters in the Tinapa partnership made up of Nigeria, Kenya and the UK have been able to interview each other via telephone about the World Cup.  I must say it was a very exciting experience for all the students.'

Listen to the interviews with the students in Kisumu below.

Referees spoiled World Cup 2010

Some of the referees at the World Cup in South Africa made the wrong decision.  Thus, it brings a lot of blaming to the World Cup fans. 

Most of the mistakes were observed during the match between Germany against England as the referee rejected a goal scored by England midfielder Frank Lampard.  Also, in the match between Mexico and Argentina, the referee agreed the offside goal scored by Carlos Tevez from Argentina.

The referees should be careful in their decision making to avoid conflicts among the participating countries, especially during the semi finals and final.

Report by Mguwa from Chalinze Secondary School, Tanzania

Black Stars rejoice Africa

The national team of Ghana, the Black Stars, are the last hope for Africa following the victory against the USA - the scores were 2-1.  During the match, played at Royal Bafokeng in Johannesburg, Ghana under their striker Asamoah Gyan played as hard as possible to make sure that they qualify for the quarter final.

Although the USA entered the pitch with hopes of winning the match, they found themselves to be behind the Black Stars  The teams finished 90 minutes with equal goals, 1-1.  It was Asamoah Gyan who scored the second goal for the Black Stars a few minutes into the first half of the additional 30 minutes.  For that result, the Black Stars have qualified for the quarter final of the FIFA World Cup 2010.

Report by Valentine from Vigwaza Secondary School in Tanzania

Ghana raises the flag of Africa high at the ongoing World Cup in South Africa

Suddenly, the 2010 World Cup that had ignited a whole continent's passion and pride had turned into a nightmare for Africa generally and the host nation South Africa in particular.  With Nigeria, Cameroon, Algeria and South Africa the hosts all failing to qualify for the knockout stage of the World Cup, the Ivorians are unlikely to qualify from the group of death.  It was obvious Ghana had emerged the lone bright star illuminating the path for Africa's big dream of winning its first World Cup after beating Serbia and drawing with the Socceroos of Australia.

Earlier on the Vice President of Ghana, Mr John Dramani Mahama, visited the Black Stars to give them an inspirational message from the President of Ghana, His Excellency John Evans Atta-Mills.  He said the President of Ghana wishes the Black Stars the best of luck.  He also said he wants them to take every opportunity that they may have and make good use of it.  He added that they should die a little for the continent and for Ghana.

Before the match between Ghana and the Germans, the reactions of most Ghanaians were very positive.  Goalkeeper Richard Kingston of Ghana confirmed the confidence they had in themselves before the match.

As a result of the motivation of the continent of Africa to the Black Stars, the Black Stars played their hearts out.  Though they didn't win the match, they still qualify for the next round.

The reaction of Ghanaians after the match between Ghana Black Stars and Germany was inspiring.  Ghanaians and Africa are very proud of the Black Stars.  Indeed, the Black Stars are the HOPE OF AFRICA!

Report by Gertrude and Mary from the Global Classrooms Gathering partnership in Ghana

Nigerian School Reporters deliver their World Cup verdict

The first World Cup ever to be hosted in Africa has been one of fun and excitement, what with the noise of the vuvuzela, the face make-up, and the presence of people from all nationalities.  It has indeed been a festival of colours and great football.

Ghana, so far, is the only African team left in the tournament.  Right now, the whole of Africa is behind Ghana, hoping that the Black Stars can do Africa proud by getting to the finals and even winning the coveted trophy.  I wish them plenty of luck!

Undoubtedly, goalkeeper Vincent Enyama from Nigeria, Gabriel Heinze of Argentina and Fernando Torres stand out to me as the players of the tournament.

I can't wait for 11 July to see which two teams will play the finals but I'm hoping and praying that the Black Stars of Ghana will be there.

Eniola, Government Science Technical College, Garki - Abuja, Nigeria

This World Cup has been a very interesting one because of the many surprises we have witnessed.  The officiating has been anything from great, countries that had very high hopes of going far in the tournament crashed out in the very first round, some players who are the highest goal scorers at their clubs have not been able to hit the back of the net, goals are being disallowed, players are getting red carded, etc, etc.  I think it is about time that FIFA introduced technology into the game of football to help correct some of these lapses and make the game more interesting and fair to both teams.

All the eight countries that have qualified for the quarter finals have great potentials of lifting the trophy, it will be very difficult to start making predictions now - maybe after the quarter final matches have been played.

One thing I can say, though, Africa has come of age to be able to host the world in a major sporting event like the FIFA World Cup and I am very sure this will go down in history as one of the greatest World Cups ever to be hosted.

Olawale, Government Science Technical College, Garki - Abuja, Nigeria

What I would like to say about the FIFA 2010 World Cup is that it was quite disappointing and heart-breaking for many Nigerians that the Super Eagles did not do well at the tournament.  We all expected the Eagles to at least get to the semi-finals.  But I guess we've learnt out lessons, we need to go back and begin to scout for very young players who will be willing to play their hearts out whenever they are wearing our national colours.  Nigeria has the potential to win the World Cup and we shall definitely do so in the very near future.

Francis, Government Secondary School Karshi - Abuja, Nigeria

Poems and match reports from Lagos

The World Cup has inspired students from Itire Community Senior Secondary School in Lagos, Nigeria, to write poetry!  The students have also been reporting on the matches at the tournament.

The World Cup Pedal

Players, playing for the Cup.

The World Cup,

Nations watching the World Cup

Who will win the World Cup?

The topic on everyone’s lips

Players fighting for victory,

The viewers await the winner

The struggle, the fight, the bruises

The injuries over the World Cup.

Players bringing out their Originality

Showcasing their best talents

Viewers filled with suspense, intrigue.

They left far away from home to

Watch the glorious WORLD C

Right in South Africa all because

Of the World Cup

The fear, the anxiety, people waiting

For what the players have got to deliver

Hail the Cup, the WORLD CUP

Oh the CUP! Oh the great cup.

The first World Cup in the

African Soil.

We shall win, everybody says.

But who will win the cup? That’s

The big QUESTION. Every

Country is trying their best but

Only one winner will EMERGE

FOR THE WORLD CUP,

1 WINNER - 1 CUP

By Ihechukwu

Tough for Africa

Boasts that Africa would finally deliver World Cup champions this July have given way to a realization that surviving the first round is an elusive challenge for almost all the six hopefuls.

Algeria, who eliminated Africa champions Egypt after a play-off, are back at the World Cup for the first time since 1986 with little hope of Group D progress against England, Slovenia and the United States.  South Africa were among the eight top seeds because they are hosts rather than due to the strength of the national team but they might as well have been unseeded having drawn France, Mexico and Uruguay in the group melting pot.

By Ronke and Toheeb

Eagles do not deserve praise -  Osaile

A member of the Association of Veteran Sports Administrators Forum - Martins Osaile, has said that the Super Eagles did not deserve all the praises they have been receiving after losing 1-0 to Argentina in their first match of the ongoing World Cup in South Africa on Saturday. 

Osaile said the result was bad enough to send Nigeria out of the competition in the first round of the tournament, adding that a team which desired to do well in a competition never lost its first match.

He said, in any competition, the first match is always very important.  If you lose it, it could spell doom for the team.  As he explained, 'Unfortunately, people are praising the Eagles for losing to Argentina.  Some said we played well but I disagree.'

By Toyin and Mariam

Participating partnerships

Amigos - Ghana, Kenya and Shetland Islands

Global Classrooms Gathering - Ghana, South Africa and Birmingham

Tinapa - Kenya, Nigeria and Hull

Urafiki - Nigeria, Tanzania and Kent

Vukuzenzeele - South Africa, Tanzania and Derby