CAF Gives Morocco Deadline For Hosting Of Nations Cup

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) says Morocco has until November 8, 2014 deadline to clarify its position on hosting the Africa Cup of Nations next January.Morocco had asked CAF to postpone the tournament due to the outbreak of Ebola virus in some parts of the continent.

But CAF has rejected this request, stating that the January 17 to February 8, 2015 date will be maintained.
The body has given  Morocco less than one week to make known its position by Novembdr 8 so that  CAF can take a final decision on the next host country when its Executive Committee meets November 11, 2014 in Cairo, Egypt.

CAF in a statement on its website on Monday, said, “the Executive Committee of CAF confirms its commitment to keep the competition on the dates indicated (January 17-February 8, 2015), while asking the Royal Moroccan Football Federation to clarify the final position of Morocco not later than 8 November, 2014.

“This time given also applies to all other CAF national associations wishing to organize the competition on the dates agreed as long as the hosting requirements are met.,” it said.

CAF allayed fears over the possibility of Ebola being transmitted in Morocco because the  country has organized several tournaments recently and there has not been a known case of the virus being transmitted.

It said that since Morocco has successfully hosted matches involving Guinea (one of the affected countries), then there was no need to entertain any fear.

“Morocco welcomes in the coming weeks and a few days before the AFCON 2015, the FIFA Club World Cup where there will be participants from a country where a case of the Ebola virus has been identified (Spain).

“On the other hand, the number of foreign fans expected in the stadiums for the FIFA Club World 2014 is much higher than the ones expected for the AFCON 2015.

“Indeed, almost all of the fans attending the Nations Cup are residents in Morocco, and considering the average purchasing power in most African countries, it is unrealistic to expect more than 1,000 supporters from the rest of continent to attend the AFCON 2015, except for those who benefit from a geographic proximity within the Maghreb region.

“Therefore, CAF considers that the current health system in place in Morocco, and whose effectiveness has been proven, is more than able to cope with the very limited flow of people for the AFCON 2015,”CAF said.

CAF also believes that postponing the event would negatively affect the international calendar of FIFA, which will have to ask for the release of players for the tournament.

It also noted that of the three countries affected by the virus, only Guinea stands a chance of qualifying for the tournament, noting that, since Guinea played its home games in Casablanca, and has adhered to a strict health protocol implemented by Morocco that has so far showed no flaws, therefore they should not entertain any fear.

Question. If Morocco refuses to host, and no other country steps forward to be the host, what then will become of AFCON 2015?