The world trophy will then emerge safely at its final destination in South Africa, host of the 2010 tournament.

The world's most watched sports event is being held for the first time in Africa for a month from June 11 next year.

"We are putting all the measures in place to make sure that the trophy will be protected perfectly," said Emmanuel Seuge, a senior marketing executive from sponsors Coca-Cola, who are organising the tour with football's governing body FIFA.

The cup is due to land in Egypt on September 21 and end up in Cape Town on December 3 after being displayed to up to half a million people on the continent.

In between, organisers say, it is scheduled to hit unstable zones including the Somali capital Mogadishu, currently under regular attack by Islamist militias.

"We do recognise that security situations are fluid in some countries but we have specific security plans in place," Seuge said.