Johannesburg: South Africa is not ready to host the Africa Cup of Nations in January if Morocco withdraws because of concerns over the Ebola epidemic, Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula said on Monday.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reportedly approached South Africa, Ghana and five others countries ahead of a November 2 meeting to decide on the future of the continent’s premier football event.
But the minister tweeted: “Hosting Afcon [Africa Cup of Nations] is a no no.”
He told South African media that the country had a responsibility to help fight the Ebola epidemic that has killed more than 4,500 people, mainly in West Africa, with the UN predicting a surge in deaths and cases.
“Even before taking the matter to cabinet, I can tell you unambiguously and categorically that hosting is a no no,” he told South African media.
“We do not have a ready-made abundance of resources to be shifted to Afcon.
“We did it [host the 2013 Afcon] in solidarity with Libya last year. Our budget cycle will not allow us to host the [2015] Afcon. It is totally impossible.
“We would like to give this one a pass.”
