By Ben Sutherland BBC Sport Online

Senegal were Africa's brightest star at the World Cup, even more remarkable considering it was their debut at the biggest football event on the planet.

2002: Year of the Lions

But history suggests a much darker star may soon be joining them on the world stage - the Black Stars of Ghana.

A change in the rules means that the four semi-finalists, plus probably the best losing quarter-finalist, at the African Nations Cup will qualify for the World Cup itself.

Had the new system been in place for 2002, Senegal, Cameroon and Nigeira - who all qualified anyway - would have been joined not by South Africa and Tunisia, but by Mali and, most likely, DR Congo.

Kuffour will be 29 - often a player's peak - in 2006

But unquestionably, Ghana has the best record of those teams who regularly do well in the continental tournament but have struggled to translate this into qualification.

And the new system offers them a great chance.

Ghana have won the Nations Cup four times and been finalists another three.

This is a better record than Cameroon, who have gone to every World Cup since 1990.

It is also better than Nigeria, who have qualified for the last three World Cups, and Egypt, Africa's first ever World Cup representatives.

In 2002 they were unfortunate to go out to Nigeria 1-0 at the quarter-final stage.

That was after their one world-class player, Sammy Kuffour, was dismissed from the team by coach Fred Osam Duodu during the group phase.

But it is not just history that suggests Ghana's fanatical fans have a great adventure to look forward to.

By 2006, the side that got to the final of the 2001 Under-20 World Cup - losing out only to hosts Argentina - will be heading towards its peak.

If they are able to go only one game better at the 2006 Nations Cup than this year's side managed in Mali, there is every chance of the Black Star going supernova in Germany.