By Osasu Obayiuwana BBC Sport in Zurich

Just four nations - South Africa, Morocco, Libya and Egypt - will be considered in Saturday's final vote for the right to host the 2010 World Cup after Tunisia withdrew its bid.

Tunisia announced its decision just before it was their turn to make their final presentation in Zurich on Friday. The other four bidders all made their final pleas to the executive committee of world football's governing body, Fifa.

Ben Ammar announced Tunisia's withdrawal from the 2010 race

The Tunisians withdrew from the bidding race after being refused the option of co-hosting the event with Libya.

Tunisia Football Federation president Hammouda Ben Ammar said that they were not willing to go it alone and needed to co-host with Libya.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter thanked the Tunisians for their interest in hosting the World Cup.

"This is fair play, there is no provision in the Fifa statutes for co-hosting and I thank the Tunisians for their interest in the World Cup," he said

Tunisia's withdrawal is likely to benefit Morocco's bid.

Tunisia have one vote on the executive through member Slim Aloulou and he is now likely to switch his allegiance to Morocco when the executive committee makes its decision on Saturday morning.

Despite Tunisia's withdrawal, Libya continued with its presentation to the committee.

Musa Nass, a member of Libyan football's executive committee, acknowledged his country was now the rank outsider but was glad it had the chance to be part of an African World Cup.

"Africa is enough and we want to thank president Blatter for ensuring the first World Cup takes place in Africa," he told the executive.

"We realize that today is the last opportunity to impress and convince Fifa that Libya would be honoured and privileged to welcome the world," he concluded.

Egypt was the final nation to make its presentation on Friday.

Hicham Azmy pointed to Egypt's good health record

Africa's first World Cup qualifier in 1934, Egypt played on its football history but also pointed out it was well on target to build 12 stadiums for the 2006 African Cup of Nations.

In a clear jibe at South Africa, where HIV/Aids kills 600 people a day, Egyptian bid executive Hisham Azmy said the country had no major problems with sickness.

"Egypt is a healthy country with no major epidemic. HIV is reported to be affecting only 1 percent of the population - that's 7,000 people," he said.

Movie star Omar Sharif joined the Egyptian top table and called on a saint to help his country's bid.

"I took some extra insurance, I lit a candle for St. Rita, the patron saint of lost causes," he said. "If we lose the bid, St. Rita will be very upset."

South Africa made its presentation with a formidable delegation that included Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former leader F. W. de Klerk and current president Thabo Mbeki.

Former South Africa President Nelson Mandela is in Zurich

Danny Jordaan, South Africa's bid leader, believes the country's experience in staging the cricket and rugby world cups within the last decade should be a deciding factor.

"If you look at event management expertise, no other country can compete with South Africa," he said. "We also have the number one ranking in the Fifa technical report.

"We have successfully staged 11 major events over the past decade, all of them safe and secure."

Mandela said: "When we were on Robben Island the only way we could follow the World Cup was on the radio.

"As football generated hope on Robben Island, so hosting this World Cup will give a certain meaning to this hope."

Morocco was the first of the bidding countries to make its final presentation to the Fifa executive.

Moroccan bid chief Saad Kettani promised a risk-free World Cup

The Moroccan delegation was boosted by the presence of Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade.

"I wanted to pay tribute to the courage of Morocco, which is committed to a World Cup," Wade said.

Prince Moulay Rachid read a message on behalf of his brother Morocco's King Mohammed VI.

"Guarantees of the highest nature have been provided to show that we can host a World Cup," the monarch said.

Morocco's bid president Saad Kettani said that they came with a delegation of 300 people, including former French great Just Fontaine, Atlas Lions coach Badou Zaki and ex-Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez.

Following the presentations there were question and answer sessions between the Fifa executive members and the delegations that were not open to the media.