The skipper of the Nigerian football team, Joseph Yobo (holding the Africa Cup of Nations trophy), arrives at the airport in Abuja on February 12, 2013. PHOTO .
The executive committee of the Confederation of African Football on Monday unanimously rejected a request by Morocco to postpone the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
At its meeting in Algiers, the committee said the competition will be held on dates originally agreed, namely from January 17 to February 8, 2015.
Morocco had submitted a request for postponement of the tournament on health grounds following the outbreak of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa.
The executive committee, in rejecting Morocco's request, said the World Health Organization has "not recommended the cancellation of international meetings and mass gatherings in countries other than those affected".
ONLY GUINEA
It also argued that of the three countries where the epidemic is prevalent, only Guinea retains a chance of qualifying for the final tournament
Further, the committee said that almost all of the fans attending the African Cup of Nations will be residents in Morocco and it is unrealistic to expect more than 1,000 supporters from the rest of the continent to attend the tournament.
"Thus, the Executive Committee of CAF confirms its commitment to keep the competition on the dates indicated, while asking the Royal Moroccan Football Federation to clarify the final position of Morocco not later than 8 November, 2014," a statement from the confederation said.
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