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Nigerian 2010 World Cup Bid C'ttee calls on Prez Kufuor

Thu, 30 Jan 2003 Source: .

A delegation from the Nigerian 2010 World Cup Bid Management Committee on a visit to Ghana, on Wednesday paid a courtesy call on President John Agyekum Kufuor at the Castle, Osu to deliver a Special message from the Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo.

Chief Segun Odegbami, a former Nigerian national soccer star and Chairman of the Committee who led the delegation said, it was to seek Ghana's assistance in their bid to co-host the tournament with four other West African countries including Ghana.

The other countries are Togo, Benin and Cameroon.

President Kufuor expressed his appreciation to the delegation and said an immediate response would be forwarded to the Committee.

Briefing newsmen later, Chief Odegbami said with the concession by FIFA for Africa to host the 2010 World Cup, it was an opportunity for Africa to utilise it and maximise it.

He said co-hosting the tournament the West African neighbours would offer an impetus to the reality of ECOWAS as an entity.

Mr Kwabena Agyapong, Press Secretary to the President, said President Kufuor had lend his support to the idea of co-hosting and consultations had to be made immediately since Ghana was well noted as a football nation.

He said it was a laudable idea in respect of the financial benefit to the country.

Earlier in the day, the delegation held a meeting with Youth and Sports Minister, Edward Osei-Kwaku.

Nigeria, which is the main host, would have four venues while the four other countries would have a venue each.

Nigeria had indicated to FIFA her intention to co-host the mundial with her fellow West African countries but the bidding committee would formally write to the world Football governing body by April 30, this year.

As part of the arrangements, the Nigerian Sports Minister shall host his other four colleague ministers in Lagos on either February 7th or 8th, to discuss into details the bid document and to iron out any difference if any.

The delegation later called on officials of the Ghana Football Association. The team departs for Cameroon on Thursday.

Source: .