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Johannesburg - Soccer fans from around the world began converging on Soccer City stadium on Friday morning for the opening match of the first World Cup in Africa, with excitement levels in the host country running at fever pitch.
The foghorn sound of vuvuzelas rang out across Johannesburg from dawn on as thousands of fans began making their way by bus, train or on foot to the giant stadium in Soweto.
"Make us proud", the Sowetan daily urged the national side Bafana Bafana in its front-page headline.
"The world in Bafana's hands," Johannesburg's The Star newspaper declared.
The 94 000-seat stadium is sold out for the game, which begins at 16:00 and will be preceded by a 30-minute opening ceremony featuring thousands of dancers and musicians at 14:00.
Some 50 heads of state, mostly African leaders, have confirmed their attendance at the match. Former president Nelson Mandela, who played a key part in securing the tournament for Africa, had also been expected to make a brief appearance at the stadium.
The Mandela family however was struck by tragedy earlier on Friday when his great grand-daughter Zenani, 13, was killed in a car crash after a pre-World Cup concert in Soweto on Thursday evening.
It was not clear how this would affect his plans.
Mandela, 91, was feted by tens of thousands of spectators at the warm-up gig in Orlando Stadium, where Archbishop Desmond Tutu introduced a slide show of photographs about the liberation leader in between acts from Alicia Keys and other stars.
Supporters arrive at Soccer City (AP)
The foghorn sound of vuvuzelas rang out across Johannesburg from dawn on as thousands of fans began making their way by bus, train or on foot to the giant stadium in Soweto.
"Make us proud", the Sowetan daily urged the national side Bafana Bafana in its front-page headline.
"The world in Bafana's hands," Johannesburg's The Star newspaper declared.
The 94 000-seat stadium is sold out for the game, which begins at 16:00 and will be preceded by a 30-minute opening ceremony featuring thousands of dancers and musicians at 14:00.
Some 50 heads of state, mostly African leaders, have confirmed their attendance at the match. Former president Nelson Mandela, who played a key part in securing the tournament for Africa, had also been expected to make a brief appearance at the stadium.
The Mandela family however was struck by tragedy earlier on Friday when his great grand-daughter Zenani, 13, was killed in a car crash after a pre-World Cup concert in Soweto on Thursday evening.
It was not clear how this would affect his plans.
Mandela, 91, was feted by tens of thousands of spectators at the warm-up gig in Orlando Stadium, where Archbishop Desmond Tutu introduced a slide show of photographs about the liberation leader in between acts from Alicia Keys and other stars.
Supporters arrive at Soccer City (AP)
