World Cup quarter-finalists the Ghana Black Stars will be honoured in London next month at the Ghana UK Based Achievement (GUBA) awards in recognition of the team’s spectacular efforts in South Africa.

The Black Stars are only the third African team to reach the World Cup quarter-finals and when they were knocked out at of the competition earlier this year, the entire continent and millions of football fans across the world were left disappointed.

The team’s performances have raised Ghana’s profile considerably, and now their efforts will be celebrated at the star-studded GUBA event to be held at the Porchester Hall on Sunday 24 October.

Black Stars captain John Mensah, who attended the GUBA launch last month, says: ‘This is great news. It makes us as a team feel appreciated for what we do for our nation, as we don’t often get awards in Ghana.

‘It’s a honour to hear and see how encouraging the GUBA Awards have been towards us.’

Mensah will collect the award, along with new Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan, Chelsea star Michael Essien, Fulham defender John Paintsil and Apollon Limassol striker Junior Agogo.

GUBA is the brainchild of TV presenter Dentaa Sumpa, and will acknowledge 16 leading professionals in the business, entertainment, sport and social action sectors.

Dentaa says: ‘The Ghana Black Stars deserve recognition for marking Ghana on the global map. During the World Cup the team were not just supported by Africans; they had support from around the world.

‘Their performance encouraged so much love and unity, and that doesn’t happen often enough.’

Other GUBA nominees include chart-topping rapper Tinchy Stryder, British actor Hugh Quarshie and BBC show The World’s Strictest Parents.

The GUBA awards ceremony takes place on Sunday 24 October at the renowned Porchester Hall in Bayswater, London W2 5HS.