Amr Shaheen BBC Sport Online in Cairo

While the celebrations continue in Cairo following Egypt winning the right to host the 2006 Nations Cup, Egyptian FA officials are eyeing a bigger prize.

"Winning such an honour was in fact expected," said FA chairman General Harb Dahshoury. "We had the best file and best facilities, and any other result would have been a shock.

There was no deal with South Africa EFA official Hani Abu Reida

"This is just the beginning. Our next goal is to host the 2010 World Cup."

EFA treasurer Hani Abu Reida confirmed that Egypt is keen to host the World Cup, and denied suggestions that they were going back on a deal with South Africa, who are seen as the favourites.

"South Africa's withdrawal from the bid for the 2006 Nations Cup was their own decision. There was no deal that they would step down from the 2006 bid while we would not compete against them for the World Cup," he said.

Bidding begins

The EFA denies doing a deal

Reida, who is expected to be voted onto the Caf executive in elections next year, denied they were given the 2006 Nations Cup as a prize for being the only bidding country to support Caf president Issa Hayatou during the Fifa elections.

"We received no reward for our support of Hayatou. It was expected for us, as Africans, to support him. And it is also normal that Egypt should have the best odds against any African country when it comes to hosting major events".

Egypt won seven of the eleven votes cast.

Fifa last week began inviting bids from African countries for the hosting of the 2010 World Cup.