Hamilton: Hundreds of African fans thronged the Seddon Park stadium to watch South Africa play Zimbabwe in the opening Pool B game on Sunday, hoping and praying for the first African team to win the World Cup. No African team has won the World Cup since the launch of the 50-over event in 1975 with South Africa finishing as losing semi-finalists in 1992, 1999 and 2007 editions.

Minnows Kenya, who lost their one-day status last year, shocked everyone by becoming the only non-Test side to reach the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup when the event was held on the African continent. Marcus Bhuvenkaga said he had been praying for South Africa's success.