Barcelona - Football-mad Rafael Nadal has had a change of heart and decided to fly to South Africa for Spain's historic World Cup final on Sunday in Johannesburg against the Netherlands.

"We usually see football players in boxes when Rafa is playing," read a statement on his website. "But this time their roles will be changed.

"Rafa Nadal will announce that he will be in South Africa next Sunday supporting the Spanish team."

Cape Town - OR Tambo International airport will be able to deal with the influx of planes that will be flying into Johannesburg for the 2010 FIFA World Cup final at Soccer City on Sunday, says Acsa.

On Wednesday, scores of soccer fans missed the semi-final between Spain and Germany at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium because the newly built King Shaka International Airport was unable to handle the number of flights landing there.

Air traffic into Johannesburg for Sunday’s final is expected to be exceed the number of flights that flew to Durban.

The Hague – Dutch football fans scrambled on Wednesday for pricey, last-minute tickets to South Africa as the country went football crazy after reaching the World Cup final for the first time in 32 years.

Orange flags took over city streets after the national team's 3-2 win over Uruguay in the semi-final. Some people covered their homes with plastic sheets in the national colour; others wore orange or put it on their cars and bicycles.

Paul, an octopus in a German zoo who predicts the national side's football results, maintained his 100 per cent accuracy rate at this World Cup by foreseeing the team's downfall at the hands of Spain.

The animal has become the most unusual celebrity at this year's tournament after correctly indicating whether Germany would win or lose each of their six games during the tournament.