The FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa is an international event with great historic importance to the African continent. It will be the first FIFA World Cup ever to be hosted in Africa since the competition began in 1934, and I am convinced that Africa is ready to welcome this momentous FIFA World Cup with open arms.
I am also convinced that the host nation, South Africa, will be up to the task, not least because it has abundant potential and resources. The experiences acquired during the hosting of the 1995 Rugby World Cup and the United Nations summit in Johannesburg in 2002 will stand the country in good stead. The speech given by His Excellency President Thabo Mbeki to 53 African heads of states in January 2007 at the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, also provided clear evidence of South Africa's commitment to hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

This World Cup will inspire hope and aspiration throughout Africa. It shall contribute to the change in the global image of Africa by showing our continent as more positive, dynamic and open. On the this issue of image, it is interesting to say again that our continent is blessed with enormous economic potential and that, with the successful organisation of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the African economy in general will surely change in a more positive direction. It will also display the continent's positive values, and the world media will relay these values to the entire world in a way that is sure to attract foreign investors to our continent.

When I look at great footballers from Africa, such as Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto'o, Benni McCarthy and Michael Essien, I feel a certain pride to see them play an ambassadorial role on the field of play. They not only bring joy to the spectators at the stadium, but also to those sitting at home across the world. These great players contribute immensely to the positive image of African football.

We have the potential today, and the state of African football has developed considerably with a general improvement in the game in our continent. All of this is thanks to the greater number of competitions and the development plans we at the CAF, with the support of FIFA, have put in place.

My greatest dream would be to see an African team reach the Final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Issa Hayatou