African football confederation is embarrassed by Morocco, South Africa bids

The African Football Confederation is embarrassed by Morocco and South Africa's bids to host the final rounds of the 2006 World Cup, delegate president of the Moroccan committee in charge of promoting the bid, Driss Benhima said.

This double candidature of the continent risks to lead to failure, while Africa can win the bid if there is unanimity around one candidate, Benhima told the press in the Nigerian capital city.

Morocco is competing with South Africa, England, Germany and Brazil for the hosting of the World Cup.

Benhima said Morocco's many assets, including an advanced telecommunications network, security and proximity to Europe, make of it Africa's best candidate.

He said Morocco, which presented its bid first within Africa, will spare no effort to win the backing of African heads of state and public opinion.

Benhima has led a Moroccan delegation that toured 13 African nations to sway their backing. He is expected to tour other Southern and eastern African nations with the same objective.

"We want to win the backing of African countries first, because our candidacy is made in the name of Africa," Benhima said.