Football: former egyptian keeper made ambassador for Morocco's world cup bid

Former Egyptian keeper, Ahmed Shoubir, was made ambassador for Morocco's bid to host the 2006 World Cup.

"Hosting the World Cup is the dream of each and every Moroccan, Egyptian and Arab," Shoubir said, adding that Morocco has all potential to host the universal event.

Morocco is competing with fellow African nation, South Africa, Germany, England and Brazil to host the planetary event. Observers believe that the race for winning the bid is between Morocco and South Africa, as FIFA (world football governing board) wants to entrust an African country with hosting the World Cup.

Part of its efforts to sway world opinion towards its bid, Morocco rallied last week several African football and art stars and made them ambassadors.

These include renowned Senegalese signer Youssou n'dor, who sang the official song of the 1998 World Cup in France, singer Salif Keyta of Guinea, winner of the Golden Disc and best-seller for 5 years.

The African football stars included winners of the African Golden Ball: Salif Keyta of Mali, Mamadou Kamara of Guinea, Ahmed Faras, Mohamed Timoumi and Baddou Zaki of Morocco.

Morocco's World field and track champion, Hicham El-Guerrouj, Nezha Bidouan, former World champion (women's 400 m hurdles), were also chosen to defend Morocco's bid.

Morocco also relies on the backing of fellow Arab states, especially those having a strong say in the FIFA, to bring the planetary competition to an Arab land for the first time in history.