Once again the spotlight will shift from the sports fields into the boardrooms as Fifa seeks to find a host for the 2010 World Cup. The world soccer federation starts its rotation system with Africa being the first beneficiary. The continent has responded with six enthusiastic bids. Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Africa, Nigeria and Tunisia seek to be the first African country to host a soccer World Cup.
South Africa
This country should take some credit for forcing Fifa to change the hosting system. Until the bidding process for 2006, the world football federation was content to use a majority vote and, with Europe holding eight seats on the executive council, Europeans always had an edge. Now with the rotation system in place and Europe not in opposition, South Africa can count on some goodwill generated during that ill-fated 2006 bid eventually won by Germany. The country’s key focus has been to win support from Europe, South America and the Caribbean. So far, the Europeans have responded most favourably.
Population: 45-million
Population growth: 2%
Gross national income (GNI) per capita: $2 820
Gross domestic product (GDP): $113,3-billion
Morocco
The North African kingdom is no stranger to bidding. Morocco has had three previous unsuccessful attempts (1990, 1994, 2006). It is widely believed that Morocco’s close proximity to Europe and close ties to some multinational corporations in the French-speaking countries could act in its favour. However, Morocco’s position in Africa, especially inside the Confederation of African Football (CAF), is not in its favour.
Population: 28,7-million
Population growth: 1,6%
GNI per capita: $1 180
GDP: $33,4-billion
Tunisia
This is one of Africa’s most prosperous countries in economic terms. It boasts of a stable tourism sector, will be hosting the 2004 African Cup of Nations and has a tradition of being a good host. This was demonstrated by CAF’s awarding it the 2004 tournament, Tunisia’s second in 10 years. The World Cup is considered to be a huge step forward. At club level Tunisian and Egyptian teams have dominated African football and the country would want to use that as a launch pad to stage the big one. A big plus for Tunisia is that Slim Aloulou is a member of Fifa’s voting council.
Population: 9,6-million
Population growth: 1,3%
GNI per capita: $2 090
GDP: $19,5-billion
Egypt
A variety of factors favour the Egyptians, among them Cairo stadium (the biggest in Africa with a 100 000-plus capacity), and close proximity to Europe for travelling supporters. Few countries in Africa can boast of drawing huge crowds for soccer games, but Egypt can. The biggest problem emanates from lack of capacity in areas outside Cairo and — like many other candidates — Egypt may have come in too late and too poorly prepared to stage a realistic bid.
Population: 63,8-million
Population growth: 1,8%
GNI per capita: $1 490
GDP: $98,3-billion
Nigeria
For some this West African country rivals South Africa in terms of stature and influence in Africa. Unfortunately, its efforts and enthusiasm are not always backed by fantastic outcomes. For instance, the Fifa World Youth Championship that Nigeria hosted was not considered a success. The infrastructure is well laid for the All Africa Games but the economy still ranks the lowest of the six bidding nations.
Population: 129,9-million
Population growth: 2,2%
GNI per capita: $290
GDP: $37,1-billion
Libya
Very few people expected Libya to bid for the 2010 World Cup and even fewer expected the ferocity of its bid — orchestrated by Al-Saadi Gaddafi, a son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Libya’s strength obviously lies with ‘its riches and infrastructureâ€, according to Gaddafi junior, who is the vice-president of the Libyan Football Federation. The federation has already committed $6-billion to the event if it wins. ‘Libya is ready to spend this sum,†said Gaddafi. ‘I can see only South Africa competing with Libya.â€
Population: 5,5-million
Population growth: 2,39%
GNI per capita: $ 7 600
GDP: $41-billion
Source for statistics: World Development Indicators
The men who matter
Only 24 of Fifa’s 204 member countries have a vote in choosing World Cup hosts. The six federations each have votes divided as follows: Africa (CAF) 4; South America (Conebol) 3; North and Central America (Concacaf) 3; Europe (Uefa) 8; Asia (AFC) 4; and Oceania 1. Fifa president Sepp Blatter of Switzerland has the casting vote if there is a tie.
Next year’s Fifa congress in Paris is particularly significant in that world football’s governing body will be celebrating its centenary on May 22 — the day the dreaded decision will be made.
The frontrunners are Morocco and South Africa. The voting process is one of elimination, but if a country gets 12 votes in the first round it is declared the winner.
Executive:
President: Joseph Blatter (Switzerland)
Vice -president: Julio H Grondona (Argentina)
David H Will (Scotland); Lennart Johansson (Sweden); Issa Hayatou (Cameroon); Mong-Joon Chung (Korea); Jack A Warner (Trinidad & Tobago); Angel Maria Villar Llona (Spain)
Members: Slim Aloulou (Tunisia); Michel D’Hooghe (Belgium); Isaac David Sasso Sasso (Costa Rica); Ricardo Terra Teixeira (Brazil); Mohamed Bin Hamman (Qatar); Senes Erzik (Turkey); Chuck Blazer (United States); Nicolà s Leoz (Paraguay); Michel Platini (France); Worawi Makudi (Thailand); Ismaïl Bhamjee (Botswana); Amadou Diakite (Mali); Viacheslav Koloskov (Russia); Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder (Germany); Ahongalu Fusimalohi (Tonga); Junji Ogura (Japan).
Expected breakdown of votes:
South Africa: 13 (Scotland, Trinidad & Tobago, Sweden, Costa Rica, Brazil, Paraguay, Botswana, Mali, Australia, Japan, Russia, Germany, Argentina)
Morocco: 9 (Cameroon, Spain, Korea, Qatar, Turkey, US, France, Tonga, Thailand)
Tunisia: 2 (Tunisia, Belgium).
— Ntuthuko Maphumulo and Merryman Kunene