JOHANNESBURG: Colombian superstar Shakira said Saturday that following the World Cup in South Africa has made her "a football fanatic."

"I really never in my life imagined that I would go straight to the sports section in the newspaper," she told journalists ahead of Sunday`s final.

"I`ve become a football fanatic."

Shakira, who wrote the official World Cup song "Waka Waka", will play at the closing ceremony ahead of the title match between the Netherlands and Spain.

She also played at a kick-off concert the night before the opening match.

"This has been one of the happiest months of my life, and one of the most exciting ones," she said of following the World Cup.

The closing ceremony, which begins at 1630 GMT Sunday, will also include performances by South African groups Freshlyground and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, organisers said.

BDST: 1901hrs, July 10, 2010