Saturday, August 30, 2014

2015 Africa Cup of Nations, Ivory Coast to be disqualified if they forfeit their qualifier against Sierra Leone because of Ebola!!!

 
Some how,this year's African Cup of Nations qualifier is beginning to create some kinds of fear and  doubt in the minds of participants because of the deadly Ebola virus!Reacting to the issues, Ivory Coast's football federation has publicly come out and  said Tuesday that, it had been instructed by its government to cancel  the match between them and Liberia scheduled to take place in Liberia  next month.
 
In the news, we're told that,Ivory Coast has restricted their citizens from travelling to  Ebola-affected countries like Sierra Leone.  where Over 1,400 people have now died in an outbreak of the deadly virus in the West African countries of Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia and Nigeria.
According to report,Ivory Coast Football Federation spokesman Eric Kacou said the government had advised that it would not allow the Sierra Leone team to enter for the Sept. 6 game in the country's largest city, Abidjan, and other plans should be made. Adding that,"The authorities are taking no chances," 
On the other hands,Sierra Leone is also still trying to find a venue for its home ties in the final round of qualifying for next year's African Cup after the Confederation of African Football said it won't allow any games to be played in Sierra Leone or Guinea — two of the worst-hit Ebola countries — until mid-September at the earliest.
In another development,Guinea said it'll play its first qualifier in neutral Morocco. Liberia is not involved in the qualifiers.

However, Africa's top football body said other games should go ahead as planned.
CAF maintained that it is following advice from the World Health Organization, which it said doesn't recommend a ban on travel to and from Ebola-affected countries. On that advice, CAF still wants countries to travel to Nigeria to play and allow travel by teams from Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
Other countries are also concerned along with Ivory Coast.
 But,Republic of Congo has expressed reservations over traveling to Nigeria — which has also recorded Ebola deaths — for its opening game on Sept. 6 and wants that match moved to another country.
But,because Nigeria is the African Cup's defending champion,that move seems to be draggy.

 When Taking a look at the schedules,The qualifier's match fixture run from Sept. 5 to Nov. 19 and will decide the 15 teams to play alongside host Morocco in Africa's top football tournament early next year.
In an attempt to minimize any risk, Sierra Leone have named a squad of players based outside the country.
CAF had said on Thursday that as far it is was concerned the game would be played in Abidjan as scheduled.!

No comments:

OO