RABAT, April 16 (Xinhua) -- South Africa voiced on Monday its backing to Morocco's bid to host the 2026 World Cup.
In a statement posted on the website of the South African Football Association (SAFA), SAFA President Danny Jordaan said that his country will give the North Africans "the unqualified support to get another World Cup on the African continent in 2026."
The announcement was made after a meeting between Jordaan and a delegation representing the Moroccan bid comprised of ambassadors former Senegal and Liverpool striker, El Hadji Diouf and former Cameroonian goalkeeper, Joseph-Antoine Bell.
Jordaan said Morocco's bid was Africa's bid, assuring Morocco that he will personally lobby for the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) and the rest of the continent to rally behind the Moroccan bid.
"It is an old myth that Africa doesn't have the capacity and naysayers should stop using the political argument. Africa hosted the best FIFA World Cup ever and with good support, Morocco can emulate South Africa," the SAFA President said.
Morocco enjoys strong support from African and Arab nations as well as wide backing from European countries.
The Moroccan foreign minister said following the 29th Arab Summit, held in the Saudi city of Dhahran on Sunday, that it "unanimously affirmed its support for Morocco's bid to host the 2016 FIFA World Cup and called on all States to provide full and unwavering support to this bid."
Morocco is competing with a joint bid from the United States, Mexico and Canada.
This is Morocco's fifth bid to host the World Cup, after their losses for the 1994, 1998, 2006 and 2010 editions of the event.
