CAF Stands Firm on 2015 African Cup of Nations Qualifiers Amid Ivory Coast Ebola Concerns
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reaffirmed its commitment to the original schedule for the first and second rounds of the 2015 African Cup of Nations (CAN) qualifiers, dismissing calls to relocate matches due to Ebola fears.
In a statement released Thursday, CAF addressed Ivory Coast’s refusal to host Sierra Leone in Abidjan over concerns about the Ebola virus. The Confederation reminded all member federations of World Health Organization (WHO) protocols, which require that delegations from Ebola-affected countries undergo medical examinations prior to travel to ensure no risk of virus transmission.
CAF reiterated that only Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia—the countries most severely impacted by Ebola—are required to stage their matches on neutral grounds. Other host nations are obligated to provide full cooperation, including sharing health information and conducting any necessary health checks upon the arrival of visiting teams.
The announcement effectively quashes speculation about the potential relocation of the Ivory Coast versus Sierra Leone fixture. CAF made clear that if the Ivorian government insists on barring the match in Abidjan, Ivory Coast risks disqualification from the qualifiers.
This firm stance highlights CAF’s determination to balance public health concerns with maintaining the integrity of the competition amid a challenging continental health crisis.
