A delighted Nelson Mandela with the World Cup in Zurich

African Union (AU) chief Alpha Oumar Konare congratulated South Africa for winning the right to host the first World Cup on soil.

Konare said: "Africa was proud that the competition would be held on African soil.

Nigeria, which at one stage had considered its own bid for the finals, said that the South Africans would be "excellent" hosts.

"South Africa has everything to stage a most befitting event in 2010, not only for Africa but the whole world," said NFA chairman Ibrahim Galadima.

He went on: "They have already demonstrated this when hosting other top international competitions in rugby and cricket."

South Africa has everything to stage a most befitting event in 2010 Ibrahim Galadima Nigeria FA chairman

In Germany, former World Cup winning skipper Franz Beckenbauer agreed.

"South Africa will be a very good host," he said.

"We saw in 2000, when we narrowly edged them out for the 2006 competition, that we could look forward to a great World Cup later on."

Despite his country's dismal failure in Zurich, Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak congratulated his South African counterpart Thabo Mbeki.

"It will be a chance for the African continent to show to the rest of the world our capacity to organise major international competitions," Mubarak said in a televised address shortly after the vote.

The news even had leaders from other African nations dancing with joy.

Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa was one of several delegates attending a special summit on agriculture and food in Dar es Salaam to join in the celebrations.

Delegates, who included Presidents Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Sam Nujoma of Namibia, danced and hugged each other after South Africa were declared the winners.