Moroccan bid chief Saad Kettani promises a risk free World Cup

Morocco was the first of four candidate nations to put their case to an audience which included the 24 members of the Fifa executive committee.

Following the withdrawal of Tunisia they are up against pre-vote favourites South Africa, outsiders Egypt and Libya, should the latter chose to continue in the race.

Having apparently closed the gap on South Africa, Morocco sought to underline its proximity to southern Europe and promised that the proceeds from the tournament would benefit African football for decades to come.

Without mentioning last year's bomb attacks in Casablanca, bid chief Saad Kettani played down security concerns.

"Morocco does not joke with security, it will be at its highest level," he said.

"Hosting the 2010 World Cup finals would be a consecration of our status as a continent, as a juncture of continents."

"We are inviting the family of football to the land of football."

Morocco placed particular emphasis on the composition of its bid committee which is stuffed with foreign officials who have extensive experience of hosting previous World Cups, such as US lawyer Alan Rothenberg.

Morocco's trump card is its proposal to use some of the proceeds from the tournament to promote football on the African continent, especially among children and women.

Morocco also presented messages from he President of Senegal, Abdoulaye Wade, the former Spanish prime minister Felipe Gonzalez and three-time World Player of the Year Zinedine Zidane.

Closing the presentation, Prince Moulay Rachid, brother of King Mohammed VI, read a message from the king urging Fifa to choose the nation which lost out by a single vote to the United States in the race for the 1994 finals.