Exclusive by Osasu Obayiuwana BBC Sport

Nigeria did not tell Blatter about the 2010 idea

Fifa president Sepp Blatter said Nigeria's plan to co-host the 2010 World Cup with four African countries will not work.

"This idea of Nigeria [to stage the tournament with Cameroon, Benin Republic, Togo and Ghana] is not feasible," Blatter told BBC Sport in an exclusive interview in London.

"Even if there is to be a co-hosting, which would be in exceptional circumstances, there will only be one organising committee.

"But we will not consider this idea, as the other countries are not candidates."

This idea of Nigeria is not feasible Fifa president Sepp Blatter

Blatter said the organisational difficulties at the last World Cup finals in Korea/Japan make Nigeria's idea an unpalatable one for Fifa.

"We had co-hosting for the last World Cup. While it was a huge success, it was difficult to organise.

"But all I have heard about this (the 2010 plan) has been through the media.

"I have received no official communication from the Nigeria Football Association on this idea," the president said on Monday.

Blatter said the 2010 World Cup must take place in Africa and allayed fears that Fifa would not honour its commitment to the continent.

"Africa will have this World Cup and nobody will take it away from them.

"They have the ability to successfully organise the tournament.

"There are six candidates and one of them will host the World Cup," Blatter said.