The Confederation of African Football, CAF, has announced
that a new hosts for the 2015 African Nations Cup will be named within
the next 3-5 days.
This is coming days after the continental football body ruled out
Morocco as hosts of the biennial championship amid fears of the spread
of the deadly Ebola virus.
Speaking on Wednesday, CAF President, Issa Hayatou, said the regional
governing body would talk to countries who were interested in taking
over the 17 January to 8 February finals and expected a quick resolution
amid suggestions Qatar had been sounded out about hosting the event.
In an interview on France 24, Hayatou also reiterated CAF’s stance
that by giving in to Morocco’s request to have the date of the
tournament moved it would set an unwanted precedent.
“Once you postpone this event, it will open the door for
everybody to ask for a delay of any competition and we will no longer be
credible,” Hayatou said.
“We will hurt our sponsors and partners. Everyone will say we are
not ready and finally it is CAF that will pay the price. That is what I
told the Moroccans.
“We cannot sign our death warrant because if we postpone this
event it will be very deadly for African football. For 57 years, we have
patiently built this house, which today is the pride of all Africans.
“They have this festival every two years and we are not about to
leave the opportunity to anyone to destroy the work we have patiently
developed over the years.
“I cannot tell you where it will be played. All I can tell you is that it will take place.”
Among the countries already speculated in the media as possible replacement hosts are Angola, Egypt, Gabon and Nigeria.
French sports daily L’Equipe suggested on Wednesday that 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar could also be set to help.
Meanwhile, Morocco believes thousands of travelling supporters from
west Africa pose a risk and wanted a postponement of at least six months
while the fight against Ebola intensified.
The virus has killed at least 4,950 people in the world’s worst Ebola epidemic since the disease was identified in 1976.
CAF announced it would seek legal redress from Morocco based on its
contractual agreement with the Royal Moroccan Football Federation which
was signed in April.
Moroccan football is also likely to be heavily sanctioned, including a likely ban from future Nations Cup competitions.
However, the Moroccan sports minister Mohamed Ouzzine told MPs on
Tuesday in a parliamentary debate after the CAF decision that the
country had not broken its contract.
“Morocco has not breached any contract because of the force
majeure. We will not rush to answer, but everyone should know that we
are prepared for all eventualities,” he said.
“The WHO (World Health Organisation) says that every country has
the right to take the necessary measures to protect its citizens… The
whole world is incapable to find some treatment or some solution for
that disease (Ebola), so isn’t it a force majeure?”
“The CAF statement said we refuse to organise the competition,
and it’s wrong. We want the tournament in our country, but we maintain
our demand to postpone it.”
“We can talk about sanctions now, but we should not forget what would happen in case we have not taken our decision.”
source:naij.com