Michael Essien became the first Chelsea player to actively qualify for the 2010 World Cup Finals, scoring in Ghana's Sunday win.
The Chelsea FC midfielder fired in at the near post on 53 minutes in a home game against Sudan, adding to a strike by fellow central midfielder, Inter's Sulley Muntari.
The final score was 2-0 which, with Benin and Mali drawing 1-1 earlier in the day, meant that Ghana's four wins out of four was enough to make them the first nation to emerge from the African qualifying competition.
In the 2006 World Cup, Ghana's first, they were the African nation that progressed furthest.
'It was so important to win, regardless of how we achieved the result,' Essien is reported to have said after Sunday's game. 'It is still special for us professionals to return home and bring joy to the people of Ghana.
'The side did not feel under pressure because we are used to playing in front of packed crowds like the one in Accra tonight. We did not let them down. It's a fantastic feeling to be the first African country to qualify for the first World Cup to be staged in Africa.'
Nigeria still have work to do to join Ghana following a late equaliser in their Sunday game.
With John Mikel Obi playing the full match, the Super Eagles drew 2-2 at home to Tunisia and remain two points behind the North Africans with only the top side going through. There are two matches left to play for each country, the next for Nigeria in October.
On Saturday, a big win for Ivory Coast left Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou needing just one point from six available to join Essien in South Africa.
Also on Saturday Brazil qualified but without injured Alex in their squad. Australia, Japan, The Netherlands, North Korea, South Korea and hosts South Africa are the other sides so far guaranteed participation.
Read Michael Essien's monthly blog on Chelsea FC.com
The Chelsea FC midfielder fired in at the near post on 53 minutes in a home game against Sudan, adding to a strike by fellow central midfielder, Inter's Sulley Muntari.
The final score was 2-0 which, with Benin and Mali drawing 1-1 earlier in the day, meant that Ghana's four wins out of four was enough to make them the first nation to emerge from the African qualifying competition.
In the 2006 World Cup, Ghana's first, they were the African nation that progressed furthest.
'It was so important to win, regardless of how we achieved the result,' Essien is reported to have said after Sunday's game. 'It is still special for us professionals to return home and bring joy to the people of Ghana.
'The side did not feel under pressure because we are used to playing in front of packed crowds like the one in Accra tonight. We did not let them down. It's a fantastic feeling to be the first African country to qualify for the first World Cup to be staged in Africa.'
Nigeria still have work to do to join Ghana following a late equaliser in their Sunday game.
With John Mikel Obi playing the full match, the Super Eagles drew 2-2 at home to Tunisia and remain two points behind the North Africans with only the top side going through. There are two matches left to play for each country, the next for Nigeria in October.
On Saturday, a big win for Ivory Coast left Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou needing just one point from six available to join Essien in South Africa.
Also on Saturday Brazil qualified but without injured Alex in their squad. Australia, Japan, The Netherlands, North Korea, South Korea and hosts South Africa are the other sides so far guaranteed participation.
Read Michael Essien's monthly blog on Chelsea FC.com
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