The venue for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals is in major doubt after the proposed hosts, Morocco, reiterated its fears over the Ebola outbreak on the continent.
The Confederation of African Football (Caf) received a letter from the Moroccan government last week asking for the tournament to be called off and had agreed to discuss the plans at the next executive committee meeting on 2 November. The prospective hosts proposed either postponing the tournament until next year or allowing them to switch to the 2017 edition instead. However, despite reports on the African website supersport.com which quoted a source from the country’s ministry of sport on Thursday claiming that Morocco has now officially withdrawn in order to “preserve the safety of our citizens”, the sports minister, Mohamed Ouzzine, moved to clarify the situation on Thursday but admitted they will follow the recommendations of the World Health Organisation.
“Our concern is the health of Africa and, based on WHO reports and guidelines, we have to listen,” Ouzzine said. “Zero safety does not exist, but one has to take the necessary precautions so that the coming tournament will be a football feast, bringing together our African brothers. But given the current Ebola situation we don’t think such a feast can take place as expected. “We are talking about the Africa Cup of Nations where we are expecting between 200,000 and 400,000, even one million spectators to converge in Morocco. I don’t think there is any state or any country that has the necessary capabilities to monitor, check and control the current Ebola situation when faced with these numbers.
“This is our real problem. We don’t have a problem with visiting teams, we have a problem with visitors.”
Ouzzine added: “If there are fears about the loss of funding and financial commitments, we can always find solutions to these issues – but today is not the day to discuss these things.
“We will discuss these things when we meet with Caf – and we might even debate other options. But I beg you, what’s the significance of the financial losses compared to human losses? A human being is priceless. I can tell you that we will reach a definite decision during our meeting with our brothers from Caf.”
The 2013 hosts South Africa are now tipped to take over after reports that the country’s Football Association was already in negotiations with Caf, although Sudan and Egypt have also expressed an interest in hosting the tournament.
Ghana’s sports minister, Mahama Ayariga, confirmed they are also considering a request from Caf to take over hosting duties.
“The Confederation of African Football has officially asked Ghana to consider hosting the 2015 African Cup of Nations if Morocco drops its bid to host the tournament. The government of Ghana is considering this call,” he wrote on Facebook.
“Caf also indicated that it was firm on the tournament dates but they will meet the Moroccan authorities and take a decision at that meeting,” Ayariga added in an interview with Ghanaian radio station Citi FM.
“But in the meantime they are writing to a number of countries that they think have the capacity to be an alternative venue in the event of Morocco actually pulling out.”
Morocco’s withdrawal could lead to sanctions from the governing body, with potential punishments including the suspension of their national teams and clubs.
The Confederation of African Football (Caf) received a letter from the Moroccan government last week asking for the tournament to be called off and had agreed to discuss the plans at the next executive committee meeting on 2 November. The prospective hosts proposed either postponing the tournament until next year or allowing them to switch to the 2017 edition instead. However, despite reports on the African website supersport.com which quoted a source from the country’s ministry of sport on Thursday claiming that Morocco has now officially withdrawn in order to “preserve the safety of our citizens”, the sports minister, Mohamed Ouzzine, moved to clarify the situation on Thursday but admitted they will follow the recommendations of the World Health Organisation.
“Our concern is the health of Africa and, based on WHO reports and guidelines, we have to listen,” Ouzzine said. “Zero safety does not exist, but one has to take the necessary precautions so that the coming tournament will be a football feast, bringing together our African brothers. But given the current Ebola situation we don’t think such a feast can take place as expected. “We are talking about the Africa Cup of Nations where we are expecting between 200,000 and 400,000, even one million spectators to converge in Morocco. I don’t think there is any state or any country that has the necessary capabilities to monitor, check and control the current Ebola situation when faced with these numbers.
“This is our real problem. We don’t have a problem with visiting teams, we have a problem with visitors.”
Ouzzine added: “If there are fears about the loss of funding and financial commitments, we can always find solutions to these issues – but today is not the day to discuss these things.
“We will discuss these things when we meet with Caf – and we might even debate other options. But I beg you, what’s the significance of the financial losses compared to human losses? A human being is priceless. I can tell you that we will reach a definite decision during our meeting with our brothers from Caf.”
The 2013 hosts South Africa are now tipped to take over after reports that the country’s Football Association was already in negotiations with Caf, although Sudan and Egypt have also expressed an interest in hosting the tournament.
Ghana’s sports minister, Mahama Ayariga, confirmed they are also considering a request from Caf to take over hosting duties.
“The Confederation of African Football has officially asked Ghana to consider hosting the 2015 African Cup of Nations if Morocco drops its bid to host the tournament. The government of Ghana is considering this call,” he wrote on Facebook.
“Caf also indicated that it was firm on the tournament dates but they will meet the Moroccan authorities and take a decision at that meeting,” Ayariga added in an interview with Ghanaian radio station Citi FM.
“But in the meantime they are writing to a number of countries that they think have the capacity to be an alternative venue in the event of Morocco actually pulling out.”
Morocco’s withdrawal could lead to sanctions from the governing body, with potential punishments including the suspension of their national teams and clubs.
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