Exclusive by Osasu Obayiuwana BBC Sport in Zurich

Nelson Mandela, with Sepp Blatter shows his emotion after the vote

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has admitted that the 2010 World Cup inspection report had little influence on the decision to award the event to South Africa.

In an exclusive interview with BBC Sport after Saturday's vote in Zurich, Blatter said several members of Fifa's executive committee were influenced by emotional factors.

"Most of the members voted with their hearts, their minds, their souls perhaps," Blatter said.

"To entrust South Africa to organise this World Cup is special because it is a country which has suffered. The country came from the ashes but has now enjoyed 10 years of freedom and international connections in sport.

"With South Africa being a multi-cultural and multi-racial country, it is a dignified representative of Africa for the organisation of the World Cup."

According to Blatter, the decision to allow South Africa to host the World Cup - the first time an African nation has been awarded the event in its 74-year history - has opened a new chapter in football history.

Morocco have to take a look at what they did wrong and what they did right Fifa president Sepp Blatter

"It is the beginning of a new era in Africa, in the development of football in Africa.

"It is a very strong sign to the whole world that we trust Africa," Blatter said.

Blatter, accused by a Moroccan journalist of working against their bid, said he understood the pain of the North African nation which had failed in its fourth attempt to host football's most prestigious event.

"I always have sympathy for those that lose because in my time when I played amateur football, we were always fighting against relegation and not promotion.

"But Morocco have to live with that. They have to take a look at what they did wrong and what they did right. It is not up to me to make an analysis of their situation."

Egypt, the only other country in the final ballot, failed to get a single vote from Fifa's executive committee.

Surprisngly, the Fifa president was not shocked by their poor performance in the vote.

"At the very beginning of the duel, it was between South Africa and Morocco.

"I think the perception in Egypt was not one that understood they were not in the race.

"They were good, they were better than good, but they were not in the race," Blatter said.