"If there is any country at all that should be given the hosting rights, then Nigeria should be there," the minister said.

"But we have to be ready for it," he added, "and we are working towards that."

Africa is the only major continent not to have held the World Cup, and Fifa has promised that the tournament will go there in 2010.

South Africa are the favourites after losing the right to hold the 2006 event by just a single vote.

Olympic bid

But Akiga dismissed the idea that Nigeria's crime problems make South Africa guaranteed winners.

"South Africa is not more crime-free than we are. I used to be the Minister for Police Affairs, so I can see it from both sides, and I can tell you what our men can do," he said.

Nigeria held the Under-20 World Cup in 1999, and although the tournament was seen as a success and relatively trouble-free, the World Cup is on a totally different scale.

New stadia would need to be built as well as existing ones needing extensive upgrading, while roads, airports and hotels would also have to be constructed.

But these hurdles have not dampened the enthusiasm of Akiga, who said Nigeria was also considering plans to bid for the 2012 Olympics.

"I think we have come of age in Africa," he said.

"If there is going to be fairness in terms of encouraging the game of football, then Nigeria should be given a chance, because we have contributed more."