Chris Maduewesi
Member
The Confederation of African Football(CAF) has turned down Morocco's request to postpone the 2015 African Cup of Nations because of the outbreak of Ebola on the continent.
Morocco wrote to CAF requesting to shift the tournament from January 2015,delaying it to a latter date till the virus is successfully contained in Africa.
But CAF rejected Morocco's request,saying that the tournament will go on as planned.
Morocco said that they want: "to avoid events which involve those countries affected by the Ebola virus" from participating in the tournament in order not to put other countries at risk.
CAF on their part turned down the appeal,adding that there has never been a change in African Nations Cup tournament since it was first hosted in 1957.
"CAF has registered the request and wishes to state that there are no changes of the schedules of its competitions and events," CAF said in a statement.
"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 cautious since the commencement of the final round qualifiers of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations 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."
Morocco wrote to CAF requesting to shift the tournament from January 2015,delaying it to a latter date till the virus is successfully contained in Africa.
But CAF rejected Morocco's request,saying that the tournament will go on as planned.
Morocco said that they want: "to avoid events which involve those countries affected by the Ebola virus" from participating in the tournament in order not to put other countries at risk.
CAF on their part turned down the appeal,adding that there has never been a change in African Nations Cup tournament since it was first hosted in 1957.
"CAF has registered the request and wishes to state that there are no changes of the schedules of its competitions and events," CAF said in a statement.
"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 cautious since the commencement of the final round qualifiers of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations 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."