Ghana - Africa's best team?

Living in the US, soccer isn't usually the easiest sport to find on TV. However, information and coverage around the US national team, as well as the MLS has continued to grow over the past few years. European soccer - gaining ground in America; African soccer - might as well try to Australian horse racing. However, even with the limited coverage or news the fact that Ghana is emerging as the top nation in Africa and one of the continent's best chance at the World Cup 2010 is quite evident. Lets take a look at Ghana's current profile:

World Cup:

• 2006 was the country's first World Cup appearance, which it advanced to the second round before elimination.
• Was the only country from Africa to advance to the second round of the 2006 World Cup
• Was the first African nation to qualify for the 2010 World Cup

Youth Teams:

• Finished 4th in the U-17 World Cup in 2007
• Defeated Brazil to win the U-20 World Cup

Players:

• 4 players in the English Premiere League (Chelsea, Sunderland, Fulham, Wigan) - led by Chelsea's Michael Essien. 
• International Experience at Inter Milan, FC Basel, Hearts, Spartak Moscow & 1899 Hoffenheim. 

Does all of this mean that Ghana is the African team to beat next year in South Africa? That Ghana will be the power team in the years to come? Impossible to tell in this ever-changing soccer landscape. So while teams like Egypt have been dominate as of late, and teams like the Ivory Coast and Cameroon have the big stars - Drogba and Eto'o, respectively, Ghana seems to slowly building a strong squad for the future and World Cup 2010. Luckily, for us we don't have to wait that long since the 2010 African Cup of Nations kicks off January 10th.