The Moroccan government calls for the 2015 AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) to be postponed because of the deadly Ebola virus. The country’s officials are afraid the virus will spread within its borders.
The Confederation of African Football has reportedly approached South Africa, Ghana, and five other countries ahead of a meeting on 2 November to decide on the future of the continent's premier football event. The identities of the other five countries have not been officially revealed.
South Africa’s Sports Minister, Fikile Mbalula, said last Monday that his country is not prepared to host the AFCON in January if Morocco withdraws, for the same reason used by the original hosts. South Africa is not prepared to take this risk. As a response,
The Cairo-based CAF reacted swiftly, saying that the 16-nation tournament should go ahead as planned, in a different country if necessary.
CAF officials are scheduled to discuss the Ebola crisis at a meeting in Algeria on 2 November and travel to Morocco the following day for make-or-break talks. Should Morocco withdraw and more than one country offers to take over as hosts, a draw will decide who stages the three-week African football showpiece.
Keeping the tournament intact is not a merely African decision. It involves the most important figures in the football world; UEFA president and FIFA vice president Michel Platini, and head of CAF and FIFA Issa Hayatou, also have much stake in this resolution. The problem with officials of this calibre is that they’re letting their personal egos and ambitions influence their decision-making on the burning issues to be resolved.
While Platini believes the tournament should be cancelled or delayed, Hayatou believes that ‘the show must go on’ and urges the countries to run the enterprise. The relationship between the two officials escalated into a diplomatic crisis after a heated argument when Platini claimed his African colleague had acted disrespectfully.
The number of Ebola cases so far this year is 9,936, and 4,877people have lost their lives. These are the WHO (World Health Organisation) official figures, which is widely regarded as the leading authority on the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. With these numbers and the officials’ behaviour, a question has arisen.
Is it the right time for having petty arguments? Is now the right moment to deal with politicians’ apologies and insults? The Virus's current danger and risk in West Africa, not the coffers or funds at the CAF offices in Cairo and not at UEFA in Switzerland.
The leaders of African countries and the CAF need to consult with professionals from the WHO, as soon as possible, to reach a clear conclusion.
If there is a high risk of holding the tournament this year, it should be postponed. Otherwise, it will take some time until any ‘show will go on’ in Africa. The virus will continue to spread to other parts of the continent, and more people will become sick.
If there is no risk, then AFCON should be played, and receive immediate help from FIFA and UEFA in terms of resources, doctors, professionals, and finance to make this African football tradition of the highest possible level. Besides, the tournament is an opportunity to raise funds and help Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
The officials must make a fast and smart decision, without letting other interests interfere with the goal: promoting African football's fantastic culture, but not compromising the safety of the people. DECIDE!