The BBC brought together fans from Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa to debate who should win the right to hold the world's greatest football tournament - and the competition was as fierce as any action on the pitch.

"In Nigeria football is like a religion", said Super Eagles fan Dr Raifu Oladipo.

"Like a religion? In South Africa it IS a religion," retorted Cape Town resident Boebie Schloss.

And not to be outdone, Alaa Abdulgani in Cairo said football had the same status in Egypt - adding that Egypt is more qualified to host.

"I'm sure that the stadiums - we have plenty of stadiums - would be filled", he said.

That lead Boebie to defend South Africa's attendances, which were comparatively low during the 1996 African Nations Cup, the last major football tournament to be held in the country.

"In all sport, when you have minor teams playing you don't get a full stadium. At the World Cup, where there will be no small teams, the stadiums will all be full - guaranteed.

"South Africa has the infrastructure, we hosted the rugby World Cup, we're hosting the cricket World Cup now as well."

"I don't think you play football like you play rugby," responded Dr Oladipo.

"Football is our main sport in Nigeria. We have taken part in almost all off the competitions organised by Fifa - we hosted the world in 1999 [in the Under-20 World Cup]."

Dr Oladipo added that he believed Nigeria's success on the field would also help their bid.

"Where did South Africa get in the 1994 and 1998 World Cups?" he asked.

"Are they going to give it to a nation that has not been doing well? No!"

But Alaa was quick to point out this equation does not always work.

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"The US held the World Cup in 1994, and it is not a world football power," he said.

"If you're talking about the bids in Africa, we know that it is not just our three countries - Libya has also bid, Morocco and Tunisia may bid jointly - but I think we can see us three are the front-runners."

Which leaves only one question - who do the fans really think will win the bidding war?

"If I had to lose my house and sleep out on the street, I would bet Egypt," says Alaa.

Boebie is equally unequivocal - "I will not only bet my house, but also my wife and children, on South Africa!"

While Dr Oladipo is as certain as the other two.

"I simply urge everyone to back Nigeria to host the world. This is football, and we are ready to give our best."