Ghana sign up for 2010

Ghana and Nigeria on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding to host the World Cup together with three other West African countries, Togo, Benin and Cameroon in 2010.

The 11-member Nigerian delegation led by Mr Steven Ibn Akiga, Minister of Sports and Social Development who were in the country to lobby for co-hosting of the mudial had earlier in the day discussed details of the document and ironed out few knotty points.


Under the agreement, Ghana and Cameroon would have two venues each, Togo and Benin would have one each while Nigeria would have four.


The name of the bidding document would be "Nigeria World Cup bid 2010".


Ghana's Youth and Sports Minister, Edward Osei Kweku, Mr Akiga and Chief Segun Odegbami, Chairman of the Nigerian Bid Committee, addressed a press conference after the meeting taking turns to stress the importance of the "dream World Cup".


Odegbami noted that diffidently, facilities in Africa may not be the same as Korea and Japan but said, FIFA in its own wisdom knew why it gave the right to African countries to bid -"for it is to enable smaller countries to also share in the joy of hosting the mundial".

Osei-Kwaku said Ghana's desire to host the 2008 African Cup of Nations would make the country ready to be part of the "dream team".


He said two new stadiums are to be built in Sekondi and Tamale to add up to Accra and Kumasi for the World Cup.


The team inspected some of the facilities in the country and expressed the hope that with a little bit of hard work, Ghana would be ready before 2010.


It is the second time the Nigerian Committee has visited Ghana to brainstorm on how best to sell the idea of a West African World Cup bid - the first visit though, was without Mr Akiga.


The 2010 edition will be awarded to one of the six African bidders - Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco, Libya and Tunisia - with FIFA announcing the winner in May 2004.