Football: Africa risk a split World Cup vote

Football: Africa risk a split World Cup vote

South Africa's chances of staging the 2006 World Cup are coming under increasing threat because of the refusal of Africa's four other candidates - Egypt, Morocco, Ghana and Nigeria - to withdraw from the running, writes Matthew Joseph. With only six weeks to go before the interim deadline for firm commitments to be made to Fifa by prospective candidates, South Africa's rivals have failed to bow to pressure to unite behind a sole African bid. South African officials will step up their efforts in the next few weeks to persuade the other countries to stand down, but if they fail, South Africa runs the risk of a damaging split vote in March next year when the 2006 venue is decided. Meanwhile, Fifa are to introduce random out-of-competition drug testing at an as yet unspecified date. The world governing body have agreed to fund a massive anti-doping programme targeting friendly internationals and training camps.