Abedi said he was put in a quandary when Nigeria made known her intention to bid because both countries' neighbourliness and close ties should have swayed his support for her.

The highly gifted former Black Stars skipper said in Accra, Ghana that he had already pitched his tent with Nigeria's rivals — South Africa, before the West African country signified her interest in the race.

According to Abedi who is presently a member of Ghana Football Association (GFA) board, he has been involved with South African bid for the Mundial since the year 2000 when the country lost narrowly to Germany for the 2006 edition.

"I was a leading player in South Africa's bid for 2006, which we lost narrowly through some foul means or whatever. And since then I have always been in the structure of the country's bid for 2010. So I have already committed myself to their goal,"

He said he could not pull out of the South African bid to back Nigeria so as not to be seen as a threat — a vice, which he has never associated with.

"When Nigeria showed interest, it really put me in a very, very difficult position because I am in the same region with Nigeria. They are my neighbours. We are like brothers. But if I should go back to tell the South Africans that I was pulling out to support Nigeria, they will see me as a threat and this is one thing that I don't like.

"1 have had cause to explain this predicament to some of my Nigerians friends whenever I am asked. It was not my intention to snub the Nigerian bid but because I have been with the South Africans for the past three years, I have to back them. I have always had my heart and mind with Nigeria and the country has shown in the World U-20 Championship that she can host a major event,"