BLACK STARS SHINE BRIGHTLY IN GHANA AFRICAN NATION REVELS IN TEAM ADVANCING.

Byline: BILLY WITZ Staff Writer

NUREMBERG, Germany - When Ghana qualified for the World Cup last year, coach Ratomir Dujkovic announced that Freddy Adu -- the would-be front man for the would-be soccer revolution in the United States -- had a spot on the roster for the asking.

Not that anybody was asking.

Not Adu, who was born in Ghana and moved to Washington D.C. a decade ago. Not U.S. Soccer, which might find Adu useful four years from now when he no longer is a teenager. And certainly not Nike, which didn't envision a West African marketing campaign when it handed him $1million.

After Ghana's 2-1 victory over the United States, Claudio Reyna and Bruce Arena might not be the only Americans kicking themselves.

Is it too late for Adu-over?

Thursday's result pushed Ghana into the second round, while the United States -- which got the help it needed thanks to Italy's win over the Czech Republic -- heads home.

If Adu, cut from the U.S. squad earlier this year, was disappointed in the result, he might be the only native of Ghana.

At the final whistle, thousands of Ghanans in one corner of Frankenstadion bounced up and down to drum beats, waved their green, gold and red flags and chanted ``Berlin, Berlin, wir fehren nach Berlin'' -- Berlin, Berlin, we're headed for Berlin (the site of the final).

``To qualify for the last 16 is a great, great thing for Ghana,'' said Richard Appiah, who flew in from London earlier in the day. ``The whole country is not going to sleep tonight. We are like Brazil -- we like to entertain. We are the Brazil of Africa.''

The difference between Ghana and Brazil will be apparent soon enough: they'll meet Tuesday in Dortmund. But Appiah can be forgiven for hyperbole. This is all new for Ghanans, who are watching their countrymen play in the World Cup for the first time. The Black Stars, as the team is called -- a nod to the insignia on their flag as well as a tribute to the players -- earned their way to the knockout phase, rebounding from a hard-fought 2-0 loss to Italy to beat the Czech Republic 3-0 and the United States.

After the players shook hands with the Americans, they headed over to celebrate with their fans, some climbing up on the railing for a group hug. Midfielder Michael Essien, who plays for Chelsea in the English Premier League, grabbed a flag and took a victory lap around the track.

He and his teammates relish the opportunity to carry the flag for an entire continent. Togo, Angola and Ivory Coast -- the latter having the misfortune of being in the same group as Argentina and Holland -- all are on their way back to Africa. And Tunisia, barring an upset of Ukraine today, will join them.

``We are playing for Africa and our country,'' Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan said. ``It's an honor for us. We have made it to the World Cup for the first time and we've proved we can make it.''

First time or not, Ghana players arrived with plenty to prove.

Traditionally, Ghana is one of the best teams in Africa, along with Nigeria and Cameroon. It has won four African Nation Cups, two Under-17 World Championships and has twice been to the finals of the World Youth Championships.

Ghana has one of the best youth infrastructures, strong fan support for its club teams, and president John Kufuor is a former chairman of a team in the city of Kumasi.

So it comes as little surprise that Ghana has produced players like former Leeds star Tony Yeboah and former three-time African Player of the Year Abedi Ayew Pele, who played in France. Stephen Appiah, who converted a controversial penalty for the deciding goal Thursday, plays in Italy, as does defender Sammy Kuffour, while Essien is in England.

Despite this talent, or perhaps because of it, Ghana had faltered in World Cup qualifying. Leadership, often conferred upon the established European players, was absent since many of the best players rarely traveled or trained with the squad. And those who were trying to get to Europe felt the need to make plays to catch the eyes of scouts.

``There was too much individuality,'' said Agyei Isaac, a German immigrant from Ghana. ``Everyone was trying to get noticed. This time it is different. We have players who want to die for the team. This period of players trying to make a name for themselves -- it is over.''

That point, metaphorically, was driven home earlier in the tournament. Kuffour was informed by Dujkovic that if he wasn't interested in being a team player, he could stay in Italy. Kuffour grudgingly went along, but his defensive mistake against Italy was turned into a goal. Dujkovic benched him and Ghana has allowed one goal in two games.

So, one big happy family, Ghana heads off toward Brazil, becoming the fifth African nation to advance to the second round. Two of them, Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002, have reached the quarterfinals.

The enormity of the task seems not to have dawned on them.

``All the other African teams are out of the World Cup,'' Stephen Appiah said. ``We are not afraid of any team. We are going to meet Brazil and we have no fear. No fear.''

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CAPTION(S):

12 boxes

Box:

(1) SWITZERLAND vs. SOUTH KOREA

(2) FRANCE vs. TOGO

(3) SPAIN vs. SAUDI ARABIA

- Scott French

(4) UKRAINE vs. TUNISIA

(5) GROUP A

(6) GROUP B

(7) GROUP C

(8) GROUP D

(9) GROUP E

(10) GROUP F

(11) GROUP G

(12) GROUP H