OWN CORRESPONDENT, Accra | Wednesday 2.30pm.
THE bitter struggle between Morocco and South Africa over who should become the first African country to host a World Cup threatens to dominate the two-day 24th African Football Confederation (CAF) congress which starts in Accra on Thursday.
The key item on the agenda is the almost certain re-election of Cameroon’s Issa Hayatou as president, despite an attempt by Angolan Armando Machado to overthrow him.
But his expected re-election is likely to be overshadowed by Africa’s battle to win the biggest prize of all — host a World Cup.
Hayatou is determined to try and force the CAF executive committee to nominate who should represent Africa when FIFA, the sport’s ruling body, decides in Zurich in July who will host 2006.
“If Africa has two candidates neither will win. We want South Africa to pull out and ensure Africa wins 2006. If not it will be another 20 years before Africa is in such a strong position to host a World Cup,” a CAF official said.
But South Africa are determined to push their position as the African leaders for 2006.
Bid boss Danny Jordan recently made it clear that South Africa will not give up their fight to become the first African nation to hold the World Cup.
“We have always argued that beyond the infrastructural requirements there are major issues at stake. There is the future of the game and the future of the game demands that football would be far better off if FIFA developed other centres outside Europe,” he said.
When the African Nations Cup, the show case of the continent’s football, kicks-off on Saturday following the CAF congress it will be the behind the scenes politicking that will decide Africa’s World Cup dreams rather than the performances on the field. — AFP