11th October, 2014
The African Football Confederation (CAF) has told the Moroccan government that it won’t postpone the already scheduled 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) between January 17 and February 8 because of the worldwide outbreak of the dreaded Ebola virus disease.
CAF said in a statement on its official website Saturday that though the body received a request from Morocco asking for the postponement of its flagship championship due to Ebola disease, it will be difficult to yield to this request because the tournament’s dates have never been shifted in the past since the first edition.
Ebola has killed thousands of people in recent weeks as it continues to spread in the west of the continent. “The Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) on Friday, 10 October 2014 received a request from the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Kingdom of Morocco, the statement reads.
“The letter was seeking a deferral of the schedule of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2015 fixed for 17 January to 8 February, due to the Ebola outbreak.
“CAF has registered the request and wishes to state that there are no changes of the schedules of its competitions and events. It must be noted that since the first edition in 1957, the Africa Cup of Nations has never witnessed a deferral or a change in schedule.
“CAF has also been cautions since the commencement of the final round qualifiers of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2015 on the health risks posed by the Ebola virus and has consistently applied precautionary principles, taking into account the recommendations of the World Health Organization and various medical experts.
“The request of the Moroccan party will be discussed at the next meeting of the CAF Executive Committee scheduled for 2 November 2014 in Algiers, Algeria, on the sidelines of the second leg of the 2014 Orange CAF Champions League final.
“Subsequently, a meeting will be organized between CAF and the Moroccans in Rabat on 3 November 2014 and the CAF delegation will be led by its President, Issa Hayatou,” CAF said.