On last week's World Football we discussed who'd be bidding for the 2010 World Cup in Africa.

We knew that South Africa, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco were definites, and said that Nigeria could be the surprise last minute entrant.

Well, they were, and this week they surprised us all again, announcing they were including Ghana, Benin, Togo and Cameroon as part of their bid.

Former Nigeria captain Segun Odegbami is leading their campaign and he told me why they had put their name forward now.

"To host the World Cup when the opportunity came is a dream we have had for a long time" he said.

It's been a disappointing year for Nigerian football

"We would be doing a great disservice to Nigerian football and the generation of Nigerian footballers who have won Africa the right to have this opportunity if we do not submit a bid".

Odegbami said that if the bid was unsuccessful, it would not be a disaster for Nigerian football.

"It would not be a setback whatsoever" he said. "Just bidding for the tournament has it's own benefits, but we are going into the bid very, very hopeful that we will be able to present an irresistible package to the world".

One of Nigeria's proposed co-hosts is Ghana, traditionally Nigeria's greatest rivals, but Odegbami insists they can overcome their differences.

"That would also be part of our motivation" he said. "We have always dreamed of the integration of the peoples of West Africa, and we want a better relationship between these countries.

"Nigeria, Togo, Benin and Ghana are almost like one country, and this would help to cement that relationship" he added.

he told us that he thought Nigeria's joint bid was preferable to an independent one.

"Absolutely. That Africa has the opportunity to host the World Cup for the very first time, with all the disadvantages that we have, I think we should maximise the opportunity, and spread the benefits to as many countries as possible" he said.

'This bid can bring Nigeria and Ghana together'

"Africa needs this kind of project to act as a catalyst for its development, and it should go beyond football.

"This would help with the development of all the things you would need to put in place in order to be able to host this championship.

"We hope this would improve the lives of the people of this region".

Nigeria waited until the last possible minute to submit their joint bid, and Odegbami explained they didn't want to rush things.

"We didn't have the previous experience of South Africa, Morocco and Egypt who have already submitted bids in the past. This is our first time and we wanted to make sure we had everything in place, and we had more countries to co-ordinate" he said.

"What we have in mind is a joint hosting that will stretch the benefits of hosting to as many countries as possible. If you look at the distances involved, they are very small compared to South Africa, like between Johannesburg and Cape Town.

"Football is not our biggest motivation. We will get to the football in 2010. But we have to go through a seven year process, the biggest project this area has ever undertaken, to mobilise the people and create this great relationship" he said.

"It would not be proper for Africa to host this tournament and limit it to just one country, particularly one whose benefits would not spread to the others".