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Friday 31 October 2014

CAF Postpones 2015 Nations Cup

If latest reports are to be believed, then the Confederation of African Football, CAF, may have postponed the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations expected to hold in January in Morocco.
According to a report published moments ago by a Moroccan daily newspaper, As-Sabah, the African football governing body has agreed in principle to postpone the biennial championship till June next year or early 2016.
This detail is coming after a meeting  was held in Yaoundé, Cameroon on Wednesday between CAF President, Issa Hayatou and representatives of the Moroccan Ministry of Sports, the Moroccan football association (FRMF) and the country’s health authorities.A source that attended the meeting had informed newsmen that the North African country had once again requested that the tournament be postponed from January to June 2015 or January 2016.

The report also stated that Hayatou would be willing to meet their request when CAF  takes a final decision on Sunday when the Executive Committee of the continental body meets in Algiers, Algeria.
However, CAF has refused to comment on the matter.It would be recalled that Moroccan had cited concerns over the Ebola outbreak in West Africa for its call for the postponement of the tournament.
No fewer than 5000 people have been reported to have died from the deadly disease in West African nations this year.
Earlier reports had revealed that South African Football Associations (SAFA) president Danny Jordaan is set to meet with the CAF boss Issa Hayatou to discuss a way forward as South Africa is set to replace the North African giants.

SAFA spokesperson Dominic Chimhavi, in an exclusive interview on Wednesday, told sport24, that a decision is not final regarding the matter.

Chimhavi also hinted that South Africa is just being considered as a possible replacement, should the royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) confirm their withdrawal.

“I can’t say we are going to host the tournament again next year,” Chimhavi said.

“This is what is happening, as we know that Morocco had requested to withdraw from hosting the tournament due to the widespread of a deadly Ebola virus. 

“CAF just voiced South Africa as a possible destination to this challenge. 

“But there are still lot of things to be considered before a final decision can be made. 

“The president (Jordaan) and the NEC members will have a meeting to discuss a way forward regarding this, but CAF is considering South Africa because we are always ready to host major sporting events. 

“We have the best infrastructure in the country but nothing has been confirmed.”

South Africa hosted the previous tournament in 2013 after being involved in a swap deal with Libya due to the political instabilities in their country, which led to the assassination of their President Maummar Gaddafi in 2011. 
Nigeria’s Super Eagles are the current champions of AFCON after their triumph at the last edition held in South Africa.
The Eagles may not defend their trophy considering they are presently placed third in their qualifying group behind South Africa and Congo. Sudan is placed bottom of the group after four rounds of matches.



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