Post by Taxigirl on May 15, 2004 10:16:17 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3716521.stm
Fifa will announce which African state will host the 2010 World Cup at 1100BST (1000 GMT) today.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter will make the announcement at 1100 BST
The executive committee of Fifa will hold a secret ballot to decide the host out of a shortlist of four: South Africa, Morocco, Egypt and Libya.
Rivalry to host Africa's first World Cup is intense, with the winner likely to host a prestigious and lucrative event in six years' time.
However, a fifth candidate, Tunisia, dropped out on Friday.
The president of the Tunisia Football Federation, Hammouda Ben Ammar, said his country was not willing to go it alone after being refused the option of co-hosting the event with Libya.
The other four bidders all made their final pleas to the executive committee of Fifa in the Swiss city of Zurich on Friday.
Barbed words
In its presentation, Egypt, Africa's first World Cup qualifier in 1934, played on its football history but also pointed out it was well on target to build 12 stadiums for the 2006 African Cup of Nations.
In a clear jibe at South Africa, where HIV/Aids kills 600 people a day, Egyptian bid executive Hisham Azmy said the country had no major problems with sickness.
"Egypt is a healthy country with no major epidemic. HIV is reported to be affecting only 1% of the population - that's 7,000 people," he said.
South Africa has been widely regarded as the favourite to host the World Cup.
It made its presentation with a formidable delegation that included Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former leader FW de Klerk and current President Thabo Mbeki.
Danny Jordaan, South Africa's bid leader, said the country's experience in staging the cricket and rugby world cups within the last decade should be a deciding factor.
"If you look at event management expertise, no other country can compete with South Africa," he said.
"We have successfully staged 11 major events over the past decade, all of them safe and secure."
Boost for Morocco
Tunisia's withdrawal is likely to benefit Morocco.
Tunisia have one vote on the executive through member Slim Aloulou and he is now likely to switch his allegiance to Morocco when the executive committee makes its decision on Saturday morning.
The Moroccan delegation was further boosted by the presence of Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade.
"I wanted to pay tribute to the courage of Morocco, which is committed to a World Cup," Mr Wade said.
Moroccan Prince Moulay Rachid read a message on behalf of his brother, King Mohammed VI.
"Guarantees of the highest nature have been provided to show that we can host a World Cup," the message said.
Also accompanying the Moroccan delegation were former French great Just Fontaine, Atlas Lions coach Badou Zaki and ex-Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez.
Long wait
Despite Tunisia's withdrawal, Libya continued with its presentation to the committee.
Musa Nass, a member of Libyan football's executive committee, acknowledged his country was now the rank outsider but was glad the World Cup was finally coming to Africa.
With the rotation of the World Cup around the continents now the rule, the losers can look forward to a long period on the sidelines.
Fifa will announce which African state will host the 2010 World Cup at 1100BST (1000 GMT) today.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter will make the announcement at 1100 BST
The executive committee of Fifa will hold a secret ballot to decide the host out of a shortlist of four: South Africa, Morocco, Egypt and Libya.
Rivalry to host Africa's first World Cup is intense, with the winner likely to host a prestigious and lucrative event in six years' time.
However, a fifth candidate, Tunisia, dropped out on Friday.
The president of the Tunisia Football Federation, Hammouda Ben Ammar, said his country was not willing to go it alone after being refused the option of co-hosting the event with Libya.
The other four bidders all made their final pleas to the executive committee of Fifa in the Swiss city of Zurich on Friday.
Barbed words
In its presentation, Egypt, Africa's first World Cup qualifier in 1934, played on its football history but also pointed out it was well on target to build 12 stadiums for the 2006 African Cup of Nations.
In a clear jibe at South Africa, where HIV/Aids kills 600 people a day, Egyptian bid executive Hisham Azmy said the country had no major problems with sickness.
"Egypt is a healthy country with no major epidemic. HIV is reported to be affecting only 1% of the population - that's 7,000 people," he said.
South Africa has been widely regarded as the favourite to host the World Cup.
It made its presentation with a formidable delegation that included Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former leader FW de Klerk and current President Thabo Mbeki.
Danny Jordaan, South Africa's bid leader, said the country's experience in staging the cricket and rugby world cups within the last decade should be a deciding factor.
"If you look at event management expertise, no other country can compete with South Africa," he said.
"We have successfully staged 11 major events over the past decade, all of them safe and secure."
Boost for Morocco
Tunisia's withdrawal is likely to benefit Morocco.
Tunisia have one vote on the executive through member Slim Aloulou and he is now likely to switch his allegiance to Morocco when the executive committee makes its decision on Saturday morning.
The Moroccan delegation was further boosted by the presence of Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade.
"I wanted to pay tribute to the courage of Morocco, which is committed to a World Cup," Mr Wade said.
Moroccan Prince Moulay Rachid read a message on behalf of his brother, King Mohammed VI.
"Guarantees of the highest nature have been provided to show that we can host a World Cup," the message said.
Also accompanying the Moroccan delegation were former French great Just Fontaine, Atlas Lions coach Badou Zaki and ex-Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez.
Long wait
Despite Tunisia's withdrawal, Libya continued with its presentation to the committee.
Musa Nass, a member of Libyan football's executive committee, acknowledged his country was now the rank outsider but was glad the World Cup was finally coming to Africa.
With the rotation of the World Cup around the continents now the rule, the losers can look forward to a long period on the sidelines.