Toronto, Canada – BERNE (Reuters) - FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Saturday he had confidence in Africa and the continent's ability to organize this year's World Cup despite Friday's attack on the Togo team bus at the Nations Cup finals in Angola.
Two members of the Togo soccer delegation died on Saturday following the ambush in which their bus was sprayed with gunfire on its way to the African tournament which kicks off on Sunday.
The driver of the bus was also killed and several squad members were wounded after the attack in Cabinda province. Togo said on Saturday they were pulling out of the Nations Cup.
"I have confidence in Africa and it's on the strength of this confidence that we will together organize the flagship competition of world football in 2010," Blatter said in a letter to African Football Confederation (CAF) president Issa Hayatou.
"This terrible incident will not make us forget that African football has written some beautiful pages in the history of world football. It is also the cradle of the pure jewels of football."
This year's World Cup, which starts in June, is being held on the African continent for the first time.
(Writing by Brian Homewood, Editing by Ken Ferris)
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