Paul Hayward at the Guardian has hopes for the World Cup, believing that the competition will provided a much needed lift for the continent.

''As the Fifa World Cup trophy arrived in Cape Town on Tuesday night, Danny Jordaan, the architect of next summer's tournament, declared "the death of doubt". The waterfront location was symbolic. Football's greatest prize had landed on the southern tip of the continent, and its magic would flow north, turning all Africans into players in a show they may think of as the playground of the old colonial powers.

''Here in the host country everyone is looking for the moment that turns the first African World Cup into reality. For many it will arrive tomorrow when South Africa find themselves at the head of one of eight groups for the tournament that kicks off on 11 June, and fixtures and locations assume vivid new life.''

Hayward also has hopes for the African nations eventually lifting the trophy. Although not just yet.

''Africa's first World Cup representatives were Egypt, who lost 4-2 to Hungary in 1934, but it was 1970 before the continent gained its first point, from the 1-1 draw between Bulgaria and Morocco. No African team has advanced beyond the quarter-finals, a point first reached by Cameroon in 1990. With the depth of talent in this vast realm – Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Samuel Eto'o et al – the coronation of a first African world champion seems predestined, yet still no single nation possesses the resources or organisational strength to cross that Rubicon.''

Over at The Times, Alyson Rudd has focused on referee Mark Halsey's fight against cancer and his possible return to referee at the FA Cup final.

In a detailed interview, she asserts:

''He has, surprisingly, never refereed an FA Cup Final before. People talk about the magic of the Cup, but for Halsey to be awarded the game would be a real-life fairytale. Halsey has kept training because he believes a high level of fitness will help him to beat the cancer and he reckons he is operating at 50 per cent of his usual fitness level. This was supposed to be his final season, although the referees in best condition are now given contract extensions beyond 49.''

Halsey himself accepts he should not be awarded the Cup Final, this year or next, on sentimental grounds.

“You’ve got to show you are worthy, which I think I am,” he said. “Hopefully I’ll get an extension, but they might say because of my cancer, sorry, we’re not giving you one. It’s a tough world, refereeing.”