The FIFA World Cup was heading to the African continent and for the fourth time Morocco put their name in the hat on this day in soccer history in 2002, joining Egypt, Libya, and South Africa.  The country put in bids to host the 1994, 1998, and 2006 tournaments.

"FIFA has taken note of this official confirmation and considers our country as a potential candidate to host this competition," the Moroccan soccer federation (FRMF) said in a statement reported by the official MAP news agency. 

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The costal African nation hoped that their soccer history, they were the first African team to advance to the second round in the FIFA World Cup when they accomplished that goal in 1986, and their close proximity to Europe would help sway the vote in their favor.

Ultimately, FIFA selected South Africa to host the 2010 World Cup.  The fans might look back and wish Morocco had been selected if the hum of the vuvuzela overwhelm the match atmosphere as it did at the 2009 Confederations Cup.

Soccer Birthdays

1948 – Radomir Antić, Serbian football manager
1959 – Frank McAvennie, Scottish footballer
1963 – Tony Mowbray, English football player and manager
1964 – Robbie Slater, Australian former footballer
1972 – Russell Hoult, English football goalkeeper
1976 – Adrian Bakalli, Belgian footballer
1976 – Torsten Frings, German footballer
1977 – Michael Preston, English footballer
1981 – Seweryn Gancarczyk, Polish footballer
1982 – Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Nigerian footballer
1983 – Peter Ramage, English footballer
1985 – Asamoah Gyan, Ghanaian footballer
1987 – Marouane Fellaini, Belgian footballer

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