World Cup fever has gripped the nation with England attempting to end 60 years of hurt.

But charity workers in a village south of Petersfield may face divided loyalties when the Three Lions take on The Black Stars of Ghana later this month in a crucial group match.

Buriton has close links to Ghana as their Village to Village group (V2V) has been supporting its sister community of Dominase for nearly 25 years.

Some of its members closely follow the football fortunes of the West African nation, who came a penalty shoot-out away from reaching the World Cup Semi-Finals in 2010.

And with the nation being paired with England in Group L, it means those loyalties may be tested to the limit when the pair face off in Boston on Wednesday, June 23.

“We would love England to do well, and hopefully win the World Cup, but we also hope Ghana go deep into the tournament as well,” said V2V group chairman, Doug Jones.

“We always keep an eye out for Ghana’s results, and follow their players when they play for teams in the UK.”

He added: “We thought it would be exciting when both teams qualified for the World Cup but to have them play each other in the group stages adds a little bit more edge to the tournament for us.”

The charity team will be glued to their tellies for the crunch match with the teams kicking off in Foxborough at 9pm.

Doug and other V2V members are no strangers to cheering on Ghana having watched the Africans compete on British soil.

Doug, fellow committee member Bernie Saunders and two other friends were at Wembley to watch the first ever senior encounter between the two nation’s football teams in 2011.

The friendly match ended in a 1-1 draw but Bernie said the atmosphere was electric with the party from Buriton getting tickets in the Ghana end of the stadium.

He said: “They were fantastic – they never stopped dancing and singing even when their team was 1-0 down.

“They made us really welcome and when they scored the celebrations were incredible. We were hugged by everyone around us.

“Whatever the result we’re certain the Ghana fans will make it a night to remember in Boston. They know how to party!”

Buriton V2V group’s support in Africa has included helping locals build school and household toilets, training teaching assistants, providing reading books and financing reading competitions and careers events at schools.

Its latest, and biggest project involves providing menstruation support and sexual health and hygiene advice for teenage girls at secondary schools in Dominase to help improve girls’ attendance and attainment.

Doug said: “The people in Dominase are fanatical football fans, follow the Premiership closely and will be crossing everything for their team to do well.

“We just hope both teams get out of the group stage and do well in the knockout stages.

“And wouldn’t it be amazing if they ended up facing each other in the final?”

Additional reporting by Bernie Saunders.