CAF Denies Morocco’s Claim of Agreement on AFCON 2015 Postponement
Africa awoke Friday to conflicting reports surrounding the 2015 African Cup of Nations. Moroccan media, notably As-Sabah, claimed that an agreement in principle had been reached with CAF to postpone the tournament, currently scheduled for January 17 to February 8, 2015. The reported deal followed Thursday’s meeting in Yaoundé between Moroccan officials and CAF president Issa Hayatou.
According to the Moroccan newspaper, sources close to King Mohammed VI confirmed that CAF had accepted the possibility of rescheduling the AFCON, proposing either June 2015 or January 2016 as alternative dates.
However, CAF has strongly denied these reports. In a statement to AFP, the Confederation’s press service described the information as “false and completely false.”
CAF reaffirmed that the tournament’s schedule remains unchanged for now. The matter is expected to be addressed at the CAF Executive Committee meeting on November 2, followed by further discussions with Moroccan officials on November 3 in Rabat.
Morocco had initially requested a postponement over health concerns related to the Ebola outbreak, which has claimed nearly 5,000 lives, primarily in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
As the standoff continues, the final decision could significantly shape the immediate future of African football.
