Africa's first World Cup kicks off

THALEFANG CHARLES | Friday June 11, 2010 00:00

 

Highlights also included a giant dung beetle, a bubbling calabash and array of colourful African costumes.

President Jacob Zuma opened the tournament with a message from Nelson Mandela who is grieving the death his granddaughter who died from a car crush on Thursday night from the World Cup Kick Off concert.

Zuma said the country was honoured by the occasion: ' We as a country, we are humbled by this honour to host one of the biggest tournaments in the world. Africa is indeed happy. This is the African World cup.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter congratulated Africa: The Fifa World Cup is in South Africa. Thank you. Congratulations. Congratulations to the African population, to South Africa for letting us stage this World Cup here.

After the opening, the hosts South Africa took on Mexico. The game ended in a one all draw. Later in the night another Group A encounter between the 1998 champions, France and Uruguay also ended in a nil all draw at the Green Point stadium in Cape Town.