adminJOHANNESBURG. — Morocco has not withdrawn as host of the 2015 African Cup of Nations soccer finals, the minister of information said on Thursday, denying reports that fears over the Ebola outbreak caused the country to give up the tournament.
But Mustapha Khalfi, who was also the official government spokesman, said Morocco still wanted the event in January postponed because of the Ebola threat, forcing a conflict with organisers that may still see Africa’s top football tournament moved just three months before kick-off.
The Confederation of African Football has insisted the January 17-February 8 African Cup must go ahead as planned on those dates, and repeated its stance on Thursday in a statement to The Associated Press.
Caf has apparently reached out to at least two other countries to ask if they would step in at short-notice if Morocco refuses to host on the original dates.
Ghana’s sports minister said on his official Facebook page that his country was approached to possibly host, and Caf also asked South Africa if it could be on standby, according to a Caf letter to the South African Football Association which was published in the South African media.
Morocco feels large groups of football supporters and other travellers from West Africa — where Ebola has killed more than 4 500 people in its worst outbreak ever — would put it at risk.
“There is no way we can be lenient with the health and safety of the Moroccan citizens,” Khalfi said at a government media briefing on Thursday, and repeating Morocco’s request for the cup to be postponed.
He didn’t say when Morocco wanted it postponed to.
Khalfi was repeating concerns expressed by Morocco’s health ministry, which originally advised Moroccan authorities to request a postponement from Caf.
“Football is just a game and we can’t play with the health of Moroccans,” health minister Houssaine Louardi said this week.
“There is no zero risk when it comes to Ebola.”
Caf has canceled all football in the three worst affected Ebola countries — Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone — until further notice, but says it is following the advice of the World Health Organisation that travel bans will not help curtail the outbreak.
Although Caf president Issa Hayatou will travel to Morocco next month to meet officials over their concerns, the body said there can be no postponement.
“Caf has registered the request and wishes to state that there are no changes of the schedules of its competitions and events,” Caf said.
Caf has now approached Ghana and South Africa about hosting the 2015 Nations Cup.
Last week, scheduled hosts Morocco asked Caf to postpone the January tournament because of fears over Ebola.
“Caf wrote to us and indicated that Morocco had given strong indications they would pull out if Caf did not change the date,” Ghana Youth and Sports minister Mahama Ayariga said.
South Africa have been sent a similar letter, seen by BBC Sport.
Caf has stated there are no changes to the schedule of next year’s tournament and it would discuss the Moroccan health ministry’s request on November 2 before meeting Moroccan officials the following day.
Speaking in an interview with Ghanaian radio station Citi FM, Ayariga added: “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.
“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.”
Almost 4 500 people have died in the Ebola epidemic that broke out in west Africa at the start of the year.
While Moroccan youth and sports minister Ouzzine said on Thursday his country had not withdrawn as hosts, he reiterated that they will follow the lead of the World Health Organisation (WHO), which has advised against big gatherings in the fight against the Ebola outbreak.
“Our concern is the health of Africa, and based on World Health Organisation 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 to 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 believes the situation is critical and pleaded for a decision to be taken for humanitarian rather than financial reasons.
“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,” he said.
“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.” —AFP-BBC Sport
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