OWN CORRESPONDENT, Rabat | Thursday 4.30pm.
MOROCCO denied on Thursday that it will withdraw its 2006 World Cup bid if the African Football Confederation (CAF) opts to back South Africa as Africa’s sole candidate.
Both countries are vying to bring the event to Africa for the first time but there are worries that the existence of two rival bids could end up scuppering the hopes of both nations.
Morocco moved to clarify its position after Driss Benhima, president delegate of the Moroccan Bid Committee, implied Wednesday that Morocco may be ready to back South Africa and withdraw their own bid if CAF throws its support behind Pretoria.
The Moroccan ministry for youth and sport issued a statement to “reaffirm the unflagging determination of Morocco to keep up its candidacy with conviction and serenity right through to the end.”
The ministry insisted an erroneous inperpretation was placed upon Benhima’s reported comments during a visit to Ethiopia designed to drum up support.
Benhima said in Addis Ababa there should be a sole African representative, but not necessarily Morocco.
“We are not only ready to withdraw our candidacy, but also to back that of South Africa if Morocco is not chosen,” he was quoted as saying.
He added, however, that if Africa refused to choose a single candidate, Morocco would keep its hat in the ring until FIFA’s final choice is made in July.
CAF president Issa Hayatou said Wednesday in Accra that his organisation will find it hard to back one African candidacy over another when both are of similar merit.
Morocco and South Africa both face opposition for the 2006 jamboree from England, Germany and Brazil.