Football: Burkina Faso upbeat over Morocco's World Cup bid

Burkina Faso said it was upbeat over Morocco's bid to host the 2006 World Cup soccer finals.

"We are optimistic that Morocco's bid will be welcomed throughout the world," Burkina Faso's youth and sports minister, Emile Kabore, told a Moroccan delegation that visited Ouagadougou part of an African tour to sway backing to Morocco's bid.

Driss Benhima, who heads the delegation, was received by President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso, to whom he handed a message from King Mohammed VI.

The delegation has already visited Tunisia, Senegal, Mali, Guinea and Benin, where it got clear expressions of support from the highest authorities. The delegation handed messages from King Mohammed VI to the presidents of these nations.

Morocco is competing with South Africa, Germany, England and Brazil to host the planetary event. The world football governing body, FIFA, will select the host country next July.