"We have no rivals now. It's football. Africans are proud of Ghana making it to the World Cup. They support us," Ghana captain Stephen Appiah said. "The other African teams were eliminated. Now we represent Ghana and Africa."

A shock defeat of the reigning World Cup champions would be the greatest victory in African football history and match the best Cup runs by an African side, the quarter-final runs by Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002.

"A good result for Ghana will be a good result for all Africa," said 1980s Ghana star Abedi Pele. "Brazil has more experience in big matches. But if Ghana can play a complete game for 90 minutes, they have a chance to make history.

"Yes, it's possible. It's football. Two teams play."

Retired Cameroon World Cup hero Roger Milla and Barcelona standout Samuel Etoo of Cameroon have visited Ghana's training camp here. Officials from Nigeria, Senegal and Togo among others have sent messages of support.

"We saw a lot of the older players come to our locker room. It motivated us. We would like to be like them," Appiah said.

Cameroon's Indomitable Lions put a scare into England before bowing out 3-2 in extra time in Italy in the 1990 quarter-finals while Senegal beat holder France in the 2002 opener at Seoul to launch a run ended by Turkey in the final eight.

Africa hosts the World Cup for the first time in 2010 at South Africa, so a strong showing would send a message for the whole continent to the world about the shape of things to come.

"It's a motivating factor for us to show them the kind of football we play in Africa," Appiah said. "If you want to be the best, you have to play against the best."

Ghana, among the world's poorest nations, celebrates a half-century of independence in 2007. As excited as Black Stars home nation backers are these days, the former British colony's party might still be going on next year.

"The whole country is upside down," Abedi said. "Friends tell me the flag of Ghana you cannot get. Everyone is supporting the team. You can sense people are so involved. The President of Ghana sends messages to the team every day."

Away from the music and dancing, Ghana players focus on training and spend a lot of time in the hotel at this rural town in southern Germany. They are not nervous, for against the title favourites they have nothing to lose.

"We're defending Ghana first and our continent. We will try our best to make Ghana and Africa proud," said Ghana coach Ratomir Dujkovic, a 60-year-old Serbian. "The Black Stars, they have the capabilities to do it."

Brazil's superstar lineup, featuring Ronaldinho and Ronaldo, has won five World Cups and reached the past three finals, a disappointing 1998 loss to France in the title match all the keeps them from seeking four crowns in a row.

"I have a lot of respect for them, but on the field I don't have respect for the Brazilians. We are the same," Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan said. "We are the Brazilians of Africa."

The same flair and qualities that make the Brazilians unpredictable and dangerous make Ghana a foe not to be taken lightly or overlooked, Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parriera warned.

"Ghana, like Cameroon and Nigeria, are outstanding teams," he said. "We have to respect Ghana. They have talented players and they are not as naive as they were. Their players play all over Europe, and they have lost their innocence."