The Associated Press reported Sunday that Nelson Mandela's family is claiming FIFA has put "extreme pressure" on South Africa's former president to attend the World Cup final.

The 91-year-old anti-apartheid icon has kept a low profile during the monthlong tournament, having decided against attending the opening game on June 11 following the death of his great granddaughter.

FIFA is yet to announce who will present the trophy to either Spain or the Netherlands at Soccer City in Johannesburg.

"We've come under extreme pressure from FIFA requiring and wishing that my grandfather be at the final today," Mandela's grandson, Mandla, told BBC radio. "But I think that decision will solemnly lie with him, how he wakes up today, how he feels, what his medical team says, but as well his family.

"My grandfather is 92 years old next week. This is an evening game. He's expected to hand over the trophy after the game which could be anything from 10:30 to 11 and it will be quite strenuous on his part."

Mandla Mandela later told The Associated Press that FIFA was being "inconsiderate," given that the family is still in mourning.

"My grandfather has recently lost a great granddaughter and the family is in mourning," Mandela said. "They should be appraised of our customs and traditions."

Mandela's 13-year-old great granddaughter, Zenani Mandela, was killed in a car crash while returning from the World Cup opening concert.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has said it would be "wonderful" for Mandela to be at the final, having been instrumental in bringing the first football World Cup to Africa.

"It is possible at the beginning of the match or just at the end of the opening ceremony, he may be present on the field of play," Blatter said in a BBC interview recorded before Mandla made his comments.

-- Kevin Baxter reporting from Johannesburg

Photo: Ghanaian striker Kevin Prince Boateng, left, greets former President Nelson Mandela at his Houghton, South Africa, residence on, July 3. Credit: AP Photo / Debbie Yazbek,Nelson Mandela Foundation

The World Cup would never have come to South Africa if Nelson Mandela, the former president, anti-apartheid activist, Nobel Peace Prize winner and the man some people call the father of the new South Africa, hadn't come first.

Yet the tournament has gone on without him. A week into the country’s month-long celebration, Mandela, who had not spoken or previously appeared in public since the tournament began, attended the funeral of his 13-year-old great granddaughter Thursday. But the 91-year-old, who is in frail health, is following events closely, according to his grandson Mandla Mandela, a member of the South African parliament.

“He is fully in support of the 2010 World Cup,” said Mandla Mandela, adding that if his grandfather had a goal for the tournament it would be “to unite our people under a peaceful umbrella.”

“Africa has been ridden by conflict,” he said. “So this event should enable Africans first to realize that we are able to [host] a world-class event. And in the ability to do so, we should assert ourselves to participate fully in the global community.”

Nelson Mandela was expected to attend the opening ceremonies as well as the World Cup’s first game between Mexico and South Africa. But his great granddaughter Zenani Mandela was killed in an auto accident early on the morning of the opener.

“The passing of his great-granddaughter has been a tragic blow to the family, and we’ve taken time to mourn her passing,” said Mandla, who also attended the funeral before appearing at a charity event to raise money for the rural village his family comes from.

But, Mandla said, his grandfather was fully aware of the role he played in bringing the world to South Africa.

“My grandfather, when we were talking about the opening of the World Cup, he was always saying to us, ‘You know I played a crucial role in securing this World Cup.’ And he insisted to the family members that [he] must be present,” Mandla said. “We were really sympathetic to his cause. He wished to be there.

“With the loss of his great-granddaughter, he was there in spirit.”

Mandla, who succeeded his grandfather as chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council, spoke in an art gallery Thursday afternoon where limited editions of World Cup-themed paintings were being sold to help support programs in the poor rural village in southeastern Africa where Nelson Mandela was born.

 "Like many rural areas in the country, we are situated in extreme measures of poverty," Mandla Mandela said of Mvezo. "Our community is living without access to clean water, without access to proper health facilities and educational facilities. No sanitation as well as no electricity.

"Even in my own household there is no electricity as well as drinking water."

Among the immediate goals for the community is to use money from the art sale to help build a high school and a health center, Mandela said.

To see the art online, go to AfricaSalutesYou.com.

-- Kevin Baxter

Photo: Nelson Mandela. Credit: Siphiwe Sibeko / Associated Press.

The office of former South African President Nelson Mandela said a relative was driving the car in which the anti-apartheid leader's great-granddaughter was riding when she was killed in a crash early Friday.

After learning of 13-year-old Zenani Mandela's death, Nelson Mandela canceled plans to attend Friday's opening ceremonies of the first World Cup ever held on African soil.

Sello Hatang, spokesman for the Nelson Mandela Foundation, said Saturday the man was a relative, but that he could not be more specific, according to the Associated Press. The man has not been named. Police say the man could be charged with drunk driving and homicide.

-- Kevin Baxter in Rustenburg, South Africa

After days of uncertainty, a spokesperson for Nelson Mandela said the former South African president would not attend Friday's World Cup opener between Mexico and South Africa.

The decision came following news that one of Mandela's great-granddaughters had been killed in an accident on the way home from Thursday night's World Cup concert in Soweto. The Nelson Mandela Foundation said the family was "torn up" by the accident, which took the life of Zenani Mandela, 13.  Reports said the driver of the vehicle that killed Mandela had been drinking. He was arrested and charged with drunk driving. He could also face homicide charges, police said.

It had been hoped that Nelson Mandela, 91 and in frail health, would be able to make a brief appearance at Friday's opening game to give the home team a boost. But foundation officials said after the accident that Mandela would "be there in spirit."

-- Kevin Baxter in Johannesburg

Nelson Mandela will attend next week's World Cup opener between Mexico and host South Africa, government officials confirmed Thursday.

Earlier reports said the 91-year-old former South African president and Nobel Peace Prize winner was thought to be too frail to brave what are expected to be chilly temperatures at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg.

Now, however, Makhankesi Stofile, South Africa's Minister of Sport and Recreation, is saying Mandela has requested four tickets to the game -- a request he quickly honored. Mandela is also expected to attend the Cup final on July 11.

-- Kevin Baxter in Brussels