Rainbow Nation gets ball rolling in festival of soccer

JOHANNESBURG - Africa's first World Cup kicked off on Friday with unfancied hosts South Africa taking on Mexico in front of 95,000 spectators in a packed Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg.

Fans hold up a South African flag before the 2010 World Cup opening match between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg June 11, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

Before the kick-off, hundreds of dancers filled the stadium with the colors of the African continent and the air was filled with the sound of thousands of the vuvuzela trumpets, which are set to be a feature of the tournament.

Tens of thousands of fans also flooded the city's streets and parks, creating a carnival atmosphere.

South Africa's pride in making history as the first African host has shone through as the Rainbow Nation rides a wave of euphoria not seen since the collapse of apartheid and Nelson Mandela's subsequent election.

In Rustenburg, where the United States versus England match does not kick off until Saturday night, it looked like a game day. Almost everyone was dressed in Bafana Bafana (the national team's nickname) T-shirts or jackets, and many people wore tall, fuzzy hats or puffy wigs in the colors of the South African flag.

Millions in other African countries also celebrated. In Uganda, people watched on large screens, while in Mozambique, fans waved South African flags and performed the diski dance based on football moves.

"Africans are proud that South Africa has been able to put the continent on the world stage by hosting the tournament," said Ghanian Information Minister John Tia. "It is a moment that we all feel good about."

The feel-good effect has spread across the continent, even to poverty-stricken and war-torn areas.

"I may not be there but I will be joining people around the world to watch my heroes," said Inusah Wahab, 15, in a vast slum in Ghana's capital, Accra.

The only thing organizers fear is that the South African team - ranked just 83rd by FIFA, the sport's governing body - will become the first World Cup hosts in history to fail to progress through the group stages.

Those fears were partially allayed on Friday night when they drew 1-1 with Mexico. However, the Bafana Bafana now face a tough task against 1998 winners and 2006 runners-up France and World Cup old hands Uruguay in their next two games.

On Saturday, the fabulously talented Lionel Messi and Argentina, who are coached by the unpredictable Diego Maradona, enter the fray against Nigeria, while Wayne Rooney will lead England in search of their first world crown since 1966.

However, soccer buffs in South Africa have tipped Brazil to take the title.

"I think Brazil will face the Bafana Bafana in the final," said Primrose Pendu in Johannesburg. "I will be so nervous watching."