It also marks the beginning of a year in the spotlight for African football, with South Africa set to become the continent's first country to host the FIFA World Cup in June.
We are delighted that they today became the first team to qualify for the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
Egypt is one of five African countries bidding to become the continent's first host of the World Cup, Fifa have already been to South Africa, Morocco, Libya and Tunisia.
BBC: SPORT | Football | African Cup of Nations | Fifa visit Egypt
Further backing from Thabo Mbeki, the leader of South Africa - the first country from the continent which will stage the Fifa World Cup - and the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, led to a few plaudits from the media.
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It was not until Ghana's first appearance at the FIFA World Cup in Germany in 2006 that the four-times winners of the African Cup of Nations regained some of their lost glory.
Libya, Tunisia and Egypt are the other three countries bidding to become the First African host of the World Cup, the winners will be announced by Fifa on 15 May in Zurich.
The huge budget helped TP Mazembe win the African Champions League title in 2009 for the first time in more than 40 years, and with it qualification for the FIFA Club World Cup, a competition that pits the champions from the ruling body's six confederations against each other.
Four minutes later, Spain became the FIFA World Cup Champion for the first time, unifying the country in a celebration of Rioja wine, cava, chorizo, and tapas.
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Last year, Japan and South Korea became the first countries to co-host the World Cup finals, but after the tournament Blatter said Fifa would discourage joint bids in the future.
In 2005 Beckham played a part in helping London win the right to stage the 2012 Olympics and the FA is hoping he can have a similarly galvanising effect in persuading Fifa to allow England to stage the World Cup for the first time since 1966.
Midfielder Benjamin Huggel, meanwhile, will travel to his first World Cup after missing out in Germany because of the six-match Fifa ban he received for his part in the brawl that erupted after Switzerland's 2005 qualifying play-off victory over Turkey in Istanbul.
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Fifa also vowed it would ensure that no confirmed hooligans would make it to the first World Cup finals to be staged in Asia.
Libya is one of five African candidates hoping to host the 2010 World Cup, which Fifa has promised to bring to the continent for the first time.
BBC: SPORT | Football | African | Fifa team wraps up Libya visit
In 2010, FIFA put its cards on the table, taking the World Cup to Africa for the first time.
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Organisers are hoping the first World Cup to be played on African soil will produce 'Football for a Better World' and Fifa will flag up preparations on Friday at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate.
BBC: SPORT | Football | African | Stars in Germany for 2010 party
It was a period of turmoil, as the country's president Goodluck Jonathan at first banned the national side for two years after a poor showing at the 2010 World Cup before world ruling body FIFA threatened even harsher sanctions, and the ruler backed down.
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