South Africa is not ready to host the Africa Cup of
Nations in January if Morocco withdraws because
of the Ebola epidemic, Sports Minister Fikile
Mbalula said Monday.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has
reportedly approached South Africa, Ghana and
five others countries ahead of a November 2
meeting to decide on the future of the continent’s
premier football event.
But the minister tweeted: “Hosting AFCON (Africa
Cup of Nations) is a NO NO.” He told South
African media that the country had a responsibility
to help fight to help fight the Ebola epidemic that
has killed more than 4,500 people, mainly in West
Africa, with the UN predicting a surge in deaths
and cases.
“Even before taking the matter to cabinet, I can tell
you unambiguously and categorically that hosting
is a no no,” he told South African media.
“We do not have a ready-made abundance of
resources to be shifted to AFCON.
“We did it (host the 2013 AFCON) in solidarity
with Libya last year. Our budget cycle will not
allow us to host the (2015) AFCON. It is totally
impossible.
“We would like to give this one a pass.”
Mbalula added: “We will share the responsibility to
fight Ebola — we are not immune to that.
“We must be prepared to share our skills, our
doctors, to reinforce the research to find a
vaccine.”
South Africa were among seven countries sounded
out by the CAF as possible replacements should
Morocco pull out.
The republic have twice been ‘emergency’ hosts of
the competition, replacing cash-strapped Kenya in
1996 and strife-torn Libya last year.
The identities of the other five countries have not
been officially revealed.
Moroccan government officials have said last
weekend they wanted the January 17-February 8
tournament postponed because they feared a
spread of the deadly Ebola virus.
But Cairo-based CAF reacted swiftly, saying the
16-nation tournament should go ahead as
planned, in a different country if necessary.
South Africa has world-class stadia having
become the first African hosts of the World Cup
four years ago.
Ghana have also been approached country that
was approached by CAF, according to the sports
minister of the west African country.

source: nigerianeye.com

The fear of ebola everywhere