OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Tuesday 3.30pm.
SOUTH African soccer officials have reacted with delight to Nigeria’s decision to withdraw their bid to host the World Cup finals in 2006 and instead support the South African bid.
South Africa 2006 World Cup bid chairman Irvin Khoza said on Tuesday that the Nigerian decision comes as a massive vote of confidence for the South African effort. “For a big footballing country like Nigeria to throw its weight behind us like that is a huge boost that will make us work even harder to win the bid,” Khoza said.
“It also makes it easier for the Confederation of African Football,” added Khoza.
Nigeria pulled out of the race on Monday with sports minister Emeka Omeruah saying his government had issued a directive that Nigeria should support South Africa’s attempt to bring the World Cup finals to Africa for the first time.
CAF are caught in a dilemma with two African countries still in the race. Morocco is the other African candidate still bidding for the 2006 World Cup and CAF are expected to attempt to get one of the pair to withdraw to allow just a single African candidate for the bid.
“We have asked CAF to hear a presentation from us next month and to make a decision to back one of the two bids,” said Khoza. The meeting is expected to take place between June 4-8 in Cairo, when the African condeferation holds its latest round of committee meetings.