Monday, 6 January, 2003, 11:53 GMT
Nigeria bid for 2010
Nigeria have made a last minute entry in the race
to host the 2010 World Cup.
Fifa on Monday announced the list of six countries that have declared
an interest to hold the tournament, which will be held in Africa for
the first time.
The deadline for national associations to express
their intention to stage the world's premier football competition was
31 December, with Nigeria leaving it to the eleventh hour before
announcing their wish to host the event.
Tunisia also left it late before officially
declaring an interest.
South Africa, who failed by the slimmest of
margins to host the 2006 World Cup, were the first to register their
desire to host the event back in November.
Nigeria's Sport's Minister Steven Akiga said at the
World Cup in Japan that his country wanted to hold the 2010 event.
His comments were considered to be more to do with wishful
thinking than reality.
But the country, the most populace in Africa, has now
taken the first step towards hosting the tournament.
The decision to invite bids only from Africa, and in
doing so to begin the process of rotating the World Cup between the
continents, was confirmed by Fifa in September.
The six bidders will receive the official List of
Requirements by the end of the month, and have until 30 April 2003 to
formally confirm or withdraw their declaration of interest.
Those confirming their bid will then have until 31 August
2003 to present their bid to Fifa.
The governing body will then inspect each country and report
to the Executive Committee in April 2004, who will make their final
decision a month later.
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