Confederation of African Football (CAF) has said there was no plan of changing the dates of next year’s African Nations Cup even though hosts Morocco called for a postponement of the finals because of fears over the Ebola virus.
CAF said in a statement on Saturday it would meet the Moroccan government next month, sending a high-powered delegation to discuss the issue in Rabat led by its president Issa Hayatou.
The host nation’s government made a shock announcement on Friday, saying it wanted the 16-team tournament from Jan. 17-Feb. 8 postponed following a report by its health ministry into the possible spread of the virus.
“CAF acknowledges this request and confirms it will make no changes to its calendar of scheduled competitions,” the organisers said.
“We have taken into account the recommendations of the World Health Organization and various medical experts. It should be noted that since the first edition in 1957 no African Cup of Nations has ever been postponed or deferred.”
Last month the Moroccan government ordered a detailed report into the possibility that the tournament might spread the disease although no cases have yet been reported in the north African country.
CAF had already banned international matches in Liberia, Guinea and Ebola-affected Sierra Leone. The latter two are still involved in Nations Cup qualifiers and will clash later on Saturday.
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