South African bid boss: This is Africa's Cup

There were scenes of wild jubilation as South Africa today clinched the contest to stage the 2010 World Cup.

The announcement of the vote by FIFA’s 24-man executive committee in Zurich was greeted with delight from the South African bid delegation including former president Nelson Mandela.

South Africa, who beat Morocco 14-10 in the first round of voting, will be the first nation from the continent to be awarded the World Cup.

Danny Jordaan, South Africa’s bid chief executive, appealed for unity from all the bidding countries.

He said: “This is the hope and the dream of every South African but it is Africa’s World Cup. Let us join hands and work together to build a world class tournament.

“Ordinary people in the street, unemployed and with no food now have a hope and a dream.”

The decision will heal the heartbreak suffered by the South Africans after they lost the vote to stage the 2006 tournament by a single vote to Germany.

It will also be welcomed by the home nations – Scotland’s FIFA vice-president David Will voted for South Africa and the Football Association have close ties with the South African FA.

Morocco were South Africa’s chief rivals but their bid had been damaged by a relatively-poor report from FIFA’s inspection team.

The bidders had assembled teams of famous faces to back their claims to stage 2010. South Africa’s line-up had Mandela, fellow Nobel peace prize winners Archbishop Desmond Tutu and F. W. de Klerk along with current president Thabo Mbeki.

Mandela joined bid leaders on the platform afterwards where he drew cheers by saying: “I feel like a young man of 15.

“My message is that South Africa should accept the result on this with humility and no arrogance because we are all equal, winners and losers.

“Next time it will be not be us who are celebrating, it will be one of those countries who have not been able to make the grade or who have not been involved in this competition.”

Gary Mabbutt, the former Tottenham and England defender who has been an ambassador for the South African bid, was overjoyed.

He said: “This is a wonderful gift to the people of South Africa. They have shown by the inspectors’ report that they can fulfil all FIFA’s demands and the passion of the country will make it a fantastic World Cup.

“It has been six years of hard work to get here and after the disappointment of 2006 it is an emotional moment for everyone who has been involved.”

South Africa’s bid chairman Irving Khoza told a news conference: “This is for all of Africa and for the 44 million people of South Africa.

“FIFA have given us their great, magnificent jewel in the crown, and there will be a lot of economic benefit for the hosting nation to help in our country’s renewal.”

Making the announcement, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said an Africa nation deserved the chance to stage the world’s biggest single sport event.

Blatter said: “African countries have the right to organise the World Cup - not just to send their best players to the big leagues in Europe.

“Justice has been done through the big family of football.”

Morocco, who had spent hugely on their bid, had the support of France’s FIFA member Michel Platini and the four African executive committee members and had made great strides in the last six months.

Their bid chairman Saad Kettani said: “We send our best wishes to South Africa but we feel the decision was not taken by objective reasons.

“In terms of all the criteria – infrastructure, security, health, finance, the legacy of football – the Morocco file was absolutely the strongest file.

“But the 24 members have made their decision and we respect that.”

Egypt did not get a single vote while Libya’s bid was not even voted on after they failed to reach the necessary criteria. Tunisia withdrew yesterday after FIFA ruled out any possibility of co-hosting with Libya.

FIFA refused to allow Libya to submit their bid to the vote after the country refused to guarantee that they would allow Israel to participate in the World Cup should they win.

Bidding countries have to guarantee visa access to every nation in the world and when Libya were asked to do so this morning they refused, a FIFA executive committee member confirmed.