BOLTON’S African residents have been drumming up support for their national football teams, who are kicking off their World Cup campaigns this weekend.

Members of the African Community Association of Bolton stood on the Town Hall steps in Victoria Square draped in the flags of the continent’s qualifying nations and entertained people with traditional drumming.

The society’s chairman, Nat Biney, said he believes that citizens of Cameroon, Algeria, Ghana, Nigeria and the Ivory Coast will all be supporting each other, in keeping with the African spirit.

He added: “I’m supporting my home country of Ghana but at the same time I’m supporting any country that comes from Africa.

“Our aim here is to bring the cup to Africa, that’s all it is. If we get a cup in Africa we will be happy. We are united as one.

“Ghana have a good chance, we have a young and very talented squad. I really hope that we are not robbed again.”

Cameroon kicked off their campaign off against Mexico yesterday with Ivory Coast in action tomorrow and Ghana, Algeria and Nigeria all playing across the next three days.

Cameroonian Alain Job, who lives in Great Lever and runs the Nkono food stall in Bolton Market, is confident his side can make light work of Brazil on their own turf and bring unrivalled glory to Africa.

He said: “We are looking at stealing the show from the hosts.

“We are determined to go in there, get the cup back and bring it to the country. The boys are in confident mood and they are ready to show them that this is the time.

“Some of them will not play in the next World Cup and this is their chance to show the world how wonderful they are.”