Striker Asamoah Gyan says the chance to achieve something special in the history of African participation at the World Cup is driving Ghana’s ambition ahead of today’s quarter-final against Uruguay.

Ghana faces two-time World Cup winner Uruguay at the Soccer City with Gyan, the Black Stars’ leading scorer on three goals so far eager to help the team set a new standard as no side from the continent has ever advanced to the semi-finals.

“For me it will be history. There are three African sides who have made the World Cup quarter-finals but we have an opportunity to do something never done before,” he said on Thursday.

“It’s a big opportunity for the whole of Africa and because of that we have no doubt we have all the African support.”

Four years ago in Germany, Ghana was also the only African side to survive the first round of group games.

Now in South Africa, the Black Stars the only one of Africa’s six participating teams to go past the group stages carry the hopes of an entire continent but Gyan says they have the character to deal with it.

“There is no pressure on us. We know how to psyche ourselves. We know how to go into the game.”