PARIS. Dec 1 1: Africa is likely to stage its first World Cup finals, in the year 2006. FIFA president Joao Havelange said in an interview published on Saturday, reports Reuter.

Havelange, speaking one week before the draw In Las Vegas for next year's finals tri the United States, told the weekly I'Equipe magazine Africa was not yet ready to hold the sport's

He said Morocco's bid to stage the 1994 and 1998 World Cups had been rejected because of inadequate infrastijicture.

"I've been at some competitions down there where tt takes 40 minutes to get a phone line to Europe." he said. "You imagine the situation at Worid Cup with thousands of Journalists trying to phone at the same time."

"Passion is one thing, organisation is another. Tve told Morocco and other countries on the continent, such as South Africa, which already has sound structures, to continue working to improve their Infrastructure.

Tm convinced that <

Africa will at last have its World Cup."

France has already been awarded the 1998 finals and Asia has been marked out for the 2002 World Cup.

Havelange denied suggestions that Asia would follow Africa In being given a third place In future World Cup finals.

That's wrong." he said. Statistics show that in the last three World Cups. Asian teams have scored Just one goal in total. To accept a third representative now would be stupid."

Africa's allocation was increased from two to three places after Cameroon's success in reaching the quarter-finals in Italy in 1990.