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Hayatou fully behind SA

CONFEDERATION of African Football president Issa Hayatou has endorsed South Africa's readiness to host the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

CONFEDERATION of African Football president Issa Hayatou has endorsed South Africa's readiness to host the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

Hayatou was in South Africa to receive the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo (Gold) award, which was due to be presented to him by President Jacob Zuma in Pretoria last night.

Other prominent leaders who received the same award were Fifa president Sepp Blatter and International Olympic Committee boss Jacques Rogge.

Hayatou said he was hopeful that an African team will reach the final of the World Cup. Africa will be South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Algeria and Ivory Coast.

"We have among the best players in the world and as administrators we will double our efforts to make progress in the African game," he said.

Local Organising Committee chief executive Danny Jordaan thanked Hayatou for his support of South African football.

In 1991 Hayatou, as the CAF president, was part of the team that decided to accept the then newly formed South African Football Association into the continent's governing body.

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