Johannesburg: Organisers have no intention of changing the dates of next year’s African Nations Cup even though hosts Morocco called for a postponement of the finals because of fears over the Ebola virus.
But the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said on Saturday it would meet the Moroccan government next month, sending a high-powered delegation to discuss the issue in Rabat led by its president Issa Hayatou.
The host nation’s government made a shock announcement on Friday, saying it wanted the 16-team tournament from January 17-February 8 postponed following a report by its health ministry into the possible spread of the virus.
Last month the Moroccan government ordered a detailed report into the possibility that the tournament might spread the disease although no cases have yet been reported in the north African country.
Morocco’s health ministry made the plea in the wake of their decision “to avoid events which involve those countries affected by the Ebola virus,” the MAP news agency quoted a government statement.
The demand to delay the continent’s footballing showcase has been lodged with the Africa Cup of Nations’ organisers, the Confederation of African Football (CAF). More than 4,000 people have died in the Ebola epidemic that broke out in west Africa at the start of the year, according to the latest figures released by the World Health Organisation.
Ebola has already made an impact on qualifying for Morocco 2015.
CAF has moved qualifying matches from those concerned countries to neutral venues as many African governments have sought a shield against worst-hit states Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.
Athletes from Ebola-hit countries were barred from competing in some sports in the Youth Olympics in China in August.
