GHANA have withdrawn from the race to host the 2006 World Cup tournament, a top South African football official said on Monday. South Africa World Cup bid chief executive Danny Jordaan said from Denmark he was informed that Ghana had quit while attending the world youth championships, which ended on Saturday in Nigeria. Jordaan is in Copenhagen for a friendly between Denmark and South Africa on Wednesday and plans talks in Norway with Per Ravn Omdal, an executive member of world governing body FIFA. The withdrawal of Ghana leaves Brazil, Egypt, England, Germany, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa battling to host the quadrennial showpiece of international football. FIFA president Sepp Blatter has repeatedly backed an African nation to host the 2006 finals provided it can meet various requirements and South Africa are widely considered the leading candidates on the continent. The 24-man FIFA executive will select the hosts next March.