Today, the African Football Confederation (CAF) insisted that there will be no change to the schedule of the Africa Cup of Nations, which is to be held in Morocco from January 17 to February 8 next year.
On Friday, it was learned that the Moroccan government wanted the biennial 16-team tournament to be postponed after a report by the country’s health ministry detailed the possible spread of the Ebola virus; which has killed more than 4,000 people since March 2014 when the outbreak was first reported in west Africa.
The Morocco health ministry lodged a request with Africa Cup of Nations’ organizers asking them to postpone the three-week competition in order “to avoid events which involved those countries affected by the Ebola virus.”
CAF said it will send a delegation, led by its president Issa Hayatou, to meet with the Moroccan government next month to discuss the issue in Rabat.
“CAF acknowledges this request and confirms it will make no changes to its calendar of scheduled competitions,” a statement reads from the organization.
“We have taken into account the recommendations of the World Health Organization and various medical experts. It should be noted that since the first edition in 1957 no Africa Cup of Nations has ever been postponed or deferred.”
“The request of the Moroccans will be discussed at the next meeting of the CAF executive committee in Rabat on November 3.”
It has been reported that CAF has already banned international matches in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone; areas which have been effected by the Ebola outbreak.
A number of Premier League stars would be due to attend the Africa Cup of Nations, including the likes of Manchester City’s Yaya Toure, Stoke City’s Victor Moses, Swansea City’s Wilfried Bony and Newcastle United’s Papiss Cisse.
