Its soccer is the second-best on earth, but its facilities were never a credible option for the multibillion dollar event. As the 24 gentlemen of the executive committee of FIFA, the governing body of world soccer, prepared for their secret ballot, not even they conveyed much certainty on the eve of the vote. The outcome was in the balance. The vote could even end in a tie between South Africa and Germany on the third ballot, affording Sepp Blatter, the president of FIFA, the deciding vote. He has long said it is Africa's turn.
Prayer is reasonable.
Though Nelson Mandela did not appear, as Danny Jordaan, South Africa's persuasive organizer, hoped even as he boarded an airplane to Zurich. The former South African president's appeal was seen on video. His country, and the African continent, Mandela implied, is ready. But internecine African politics might destroy the bid, as they did with Cape Town's desire to stage the 2004 Olympic Games, which foundered because some African nations voted against their own continent. The five African votes cannot be taken for granted, even after Morocco has been eliminated, probably on the first ballot.