Muntari helped the Black Stars into the Cup of Nations semi-finals

Supporters of the hosts had been critical of the side in the group stage, but they rallied behind the team after Michael Essien's equaliser.

"They helped us a lot, it was fantastic," Muntari told BBC Sport.

"You can't describe it, we thank them for coming and cheering us, and we'll try our best not to let them down."

Muntari conceded that the road to the final will be harder without captain John Mensah, who is suspended after being red-carded.

"It's a big blow but we'll try our best to go in and play without him," he said.

606: DEBATE What a truly wonderful record Berti Vogts has in international management - he turned Scotland into total doom and gloom, and has now got the worst out of a brilliant bunch of players at Nigeria Carra_XI

"It's too early to say that we're going to win the tournament, but we're on our way.

"We have to think about the semi-final first, and we'll be ready for either Tunisia or Cameroon."

Ghana coach Claude LeRoy said that he decided to stick with his game plan after the 60th-minute expulsion of Mensah.

"We took a risk not to change our formation and bring on a defender after Mensah had been sent off but we wanted to keep attacking," he said.

"We wanted to win it."

Pressure has increased on Vogts after Nigeria's quarter-final exit

Nigeria coach Berti Vogts would not answer questions concerning his future with the team.

"I'm very disappointed, we paid dearly for our mistakes," said Vogts.

"But I have a young team, they're not so experienced as Ghana, who were in the last World Cup.

"My boys gave 100% today, we lose together, we win together."

Super Eagles midfielder Osaze Odemwingie was disappointed with his team.

"We know we can play better than we did," he said.