Official: Mandela will attend World Cup

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, June 4 (UPI) -- Former South African President Nelson Mandela will attend the opening and final matches of the World Cup, an official said.

The anti-apartheid champion is 91 and was thought too frail to make the journey to the Soccer City Stadium venue in Johannesburg, but he has requested tickets to the events, the BBC reported Friday.

Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile said Mandela, who campaigned for the World Cup to come to South Africa, is keen to attend the showpiece event.

"Mandela has demanded to attend the World Cup,'' Stofile said.

Mandela famously appeared at the 1995 rugby World Cup final wearing the green and gold jersey of the Springboks, and is expected to do the same for Bafana Bafana, South Africa's national soccer team, ESPN Soccernet reported.

Mandela's family has denied he will attend the tournament. His charity, the Mandela Foundation, has not confirmed his attendance, citing security reasons.

The World Cup, being held in Africa for the first time, is expected to bring 350,000 people to South Africa, the BBC reported.