Former US Ambassador Defends Morocco’s AFCON Postponement Decision Amid Ebola Concerns
Former US ambassador Edward M. Gabriel has come to Morocco’s defense following the country’s disqualification from hosting the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. Morocco had requested a postponement of the tournament due to the Ebola epidemic, a move that led the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to strip the nation of its hosting rights and disqualify its national team.
Writing in the Letters to the Editor column under the title “In Defense of Morocco”, Gabriel emphasized Morocco’s responsible leadership in the face of a global health threat.
“Since the beginning of the Ebola epidemic, Morocco has been a constant partner to countries affected by the virus. Royal Air Maroc remains one of only two airlines that have operated flights to the three countries most affected by the disease,” he wrote.
The former diplomat also praised Morocco’s internal response:
“Morocco has taken strict protective measures against the Ebola virus by strengthening health checks at airports and providing appropriate equipment to medical personnel.”
Gabriel argued that Morocco’s request to postpone AFCON was driven by a legitimate concern for public health, not reluctance or incapacity:
“The decision to request a postponement of the Africa Cup of Nations until the epidemic is under control is another sign of the country’s leadership in this regard. We should commend the country for its steadfastness even though the organizers have disqualified the Moroccan team.”
CAF’s decision sparked wide debate across the footballing world, with some praising Morocco’s prudence and others criticizing the disruption caused to the tournament’s organization.
