AFCON 2015: Ghana coach Avram Grant delighted Black Stars are digging deep for victories

Ghana coach Avram Grant is delighted that the Black Stars are digging deep to secure victories at that have seen them reach the quarter-finals of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Black Stars came back from the brink of elimination on Tuesday with two goals in the last 17 minutes to beat South Africa 2-1 and reach the African Cup of Nations quarter-finals.

The four-times winners were heading for an early exit after Mandla Masango’s spectacular volley for South Africa in the 17th minute.

But substitute John Boye equalised from close range in the 73rd minute for Avram Grant’s side and Andre Ayew headed home 10 minutes later for a victory that took Ghana from going out to topping the group.

Captain Asamoah Gyan scored last-gasp goal secured a 1-0 win against Algeria in the Black Stars' last outing on Friday which shows the side has mental toughness.

"I am very happy but I am more happy with the way in which we did it," the former Chelsea coach Avram said in the post match interview.

"I said to the players you do not need to think about how you can make yourself happy but how you can make people proud of you.

"And as you have seen in all the games the players are fighting. I must say thank you to all the players.

"The late victories are more sweet because we spoke a lot about mentality and for them not to give up is great and we all saw it.

"The first goal was fantastic and the second one was a goal of determination.

"We missed from a couple of chances we could have scored through and at the end of the day it is always good to be on the winning side."

Ghana will now face the runners-up in Group D in Malabo on Sunday.