The Confederation of African Football (CAF) says there will be no changes to its schedule ahead of the 2015 African Cup of Nations in Morocco despite pleas from the hosts for the tournament to be postponed due to concerns over the Ebola epidemic.<\/p>\n
The government of the 2015 African Cup of Nations hosts, Morocco, lodged a request to CAF to postpone the tournament because of\u00a0concerns over the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease in West Africa.<\/span><\/p>\n [contextly_sidebar id=”nNpAsapzjszgTjzOU29MXjxDz4OK857z”]The disease which, according to the World Health Organsation, has exceeded 4,000 deaths since the beginning of the year is most prevalent in the West African country, Liberia as well as Sierra Leone and\u00a0Guinea, who are still involved in the qualifiers for the tournament.<\/p>\n However a statement on CAF’s website\u00a0\u00a0said that the body had\u00a0“recorded this request and confirms that no changes to the agenda of the schedule of competitions and events,” \u00a0for the tournament which\u00a0is scheduled to be held between 17 January and 8 February 2015.<\/p>\n “We have taken into account the recommendations of the World Health Organisation 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.<\/p>\n “The request of the Moroccans will be discussed at the next meeting of the CAF executive committee scheduled for November 2 in Algiers.<\/p>\n “Subsequently a meeting will be organised between CAF and the Moroccans in Rabat on November 3. The delegation will be led by CAF president Issa Hayatou.”<\/p>\n The Morocco health ministry made the plea, after the the government ordered a report\u00a0into the possibility that the tournament\u00a0might lead to the disease spreading, in order “to avoid events which involve those countries affected by the Ebola virus.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By: Edwin Kwakofi\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
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