Fifteen African Heads of State were expected to attend the World Cup closing ceremony, International Relations director-general Ayanda Ntsaluba said on Thursday.

"We're putting all the finishing touches to ensure that all is in place," Ntsaluba told the media in Pretoria.

He refused to indicate who the Heads of State were, citing security issues.

"We'll allow you to speculate who's coming," he said, adding that they were still waiting confirmation from some countries like Spain and the Netherlands.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was expected to attend the closing ceremony and it was understood that Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai would attend.

"But we are expecting high representation from both Spain and Netherlands."

Ntsaluba said that he was encouraged by the success of the tournament and they wanted to ensure that visitors go back home with fond memories.

On Wednesday, International Relations spokesperson Saul Molobi said that those attending included: King Letsie of Lesotho, King Mswati of Swaziland, Mugabe, Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, Mozambican President Armando Guebuza, Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba and Comoros President Ahmed Abdullah Mohamed Sambi.

The Presidents of Malawi, Burundi, Ghana, Togo, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea and Djibouti were also expected.

Many of the Heads of State would attend the 1Goal Education Summit, hosted by President Jacob Zuma and FIFA president Sepp Blatter, to take place before the match on July 11.