adminLovemore Dube, Senior Sports Editor, recently in Agadir, Morocco
THE media in Morocco is unhappy with the Confederation of African Football’s decision to move the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals from their country to Equatorial Guinea.
The decision was taken after the continental body turned down Morocco’s request to have finals moved to mid next year amid Ebola fears. West Africa is the worst affected region and most countries that qualify for the finals have always been from there.
Chafik Zaaroui, a sports journalist based in Morocco who was at the match played between his country’s senior national team and a development Warriors side in Agadir on Sunday, said the decision had shocked the nation. He said no consideration had been given to the masses but Caf had selfishly looked at its own interests.
“The people of Morocco were shocked by the decision. Our position was to have Ebola contained in Africa before we risk the whole continent, so it made sense for them to accede to our country’s request which we believe was right.
“Ebola is a threat to all Africans and the rest of the world. So considerations could have been made in that light. There are no assurances that Equatorial Guinea is safe given the conditions there. They might have thrown so many people into risk by doing so. By June with concerted world efforts there is no doubt we would have eradicated Ebola as Africa,” said Zaaroui.
He said it was disheartening to note that their players would also be affected by the decision.
“We have a good team. We were looking forward to the tournament, the biggest losers now are the players who will not face the best from the continent. Morocco were committed to the tournament but where the continent’s health question comes, it’s only fair to skip playing host to the event,” he said.
A group of journalists who could not understand English mobbed us and when Zaaroui told them that the subject was Afcon 2015, they expressed their disgust in Arabic and French.
Another journalist Adil Rahmouni described it as a sad development for African football.
Caf last week defended their decision saying they were protecting the integrity of the game and did not want in future other countries tampering with the tournament dates.
The event has for a long time been held in January and February as mid year would have seen the competition coincide with the World Cup, All-Africa Games and Olympics.
Online Reporter