JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA: Safa vice president Mandla Mazibuko,2010 LOC CEO Danny Jordaan and Solomon Kalou attend the Ivory Coast Press Conference from the Inter Continental Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa. Ivory Coast was the second African team to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.
Photograph by: Gallo Images
Credit: Getty Images

The furthest Africa has advanced in the past is the quarterfinal stage.

"But hosting the first World Cup on African soil was also just a dream at one stage," argues the chief executive of the 2010 Organising Committee.

This year, Africa served as Fifa's playground, with Egypt hosting the under-20 World Cup and Nigeria staging the under-17s.

"In both those tournaments, African teams reached the final and one hopes it is a good sign for the senior competition."

Ghana beat Brazil in Egypt and Nigeria were denied by Switzerland from completing an African clean sweep. The aspirations of Africa will rest on Algeria, Bafana Bafana, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria.

A grand total of 204 nations entered the gruelling race on the road to South Africa 2010. Just 31 made the cut and their ambassadors joined LOC chairman Irvin Khoza, Safa president Kirsten Nematandani and Jordaan at a flag-raising ceremony this week.

The fluttering of the flags signalled a shift in the World Cup story line, says Jordaan.

"It changes from the concrete of construction to the human factor and the emotion of the World Cup, which is about the teams, the coaches and the fans."

Phase three of World Cup ticket sales will start on December 5, the day after the draw, which will be conducted in Cape Town.

Jordaan appealed to the ambassadors to help convey the real message about SA to their citizens.

"We appoint all of you as 2010 World Cup ambassadors. If the ticket sales from your country are not moving, we are going to make a representation to your country to say you are not doing your job and they should recall you," he joked.

About reports that various airlines are to charge exorbitant flight prices during the tournament, he said: "One of the strengths of SA as a host is that it is a cost-effective destination. We would like to keep those characteristics and not let the World Cup change the fact that this is a value-for-money destination."

Perceptions about SA being a crime hot spot persist and continue to be a challenge the LOC have to confront.

"There is a clear difference between societal crime and event crime.

"When the 31 teams come here, I know where they will arrive, where they will stay, when they must move to train, to play. Safety and security is about having information," says Jordaan.