No Ebola Threat to Africa Cup of Nations Tournament

(ATR) The 2015 African Cup of Nations will be played as scheduled, despite hosts` fears about the Ebola virus.

On Saturday, CAF, the Confederation of African Football, announced that the African Cup of Nations will be held as planned in Morocco on Jan. 17 – Feb. 8. The Moroccan government requested to have the event rescheduled after the country's health ministry said steps should be taken to avoid events with participants from Ebola-stricken countries.

"CAF acknowledges this request and confirms it will make no changes to its calendar of scheduled competitions," a statement on the CAF website read.

"We have taken into account the recommendations of the World Health Organization and various medical experts. It should be noted that since the first edition in 1957 no Africa Cup of Nations has ever been postponed or deferred."

Hamid Faridi, an advisor to the Moroccan Sports Minister, emphasized the dangers of hosting the tournament on Saturday in an interview with Atlantic Radio.

"Morocco drew up its request on the basis of very serious health recommendations," Faridi said.

"We cannot, in any case, move towards taking a risk. The principle of precaution must prevail."

A CAF delegation, led by president Issa Hayatou, will meet with the Moroccan government in November to discuss the issue.

The confederation has already banned international matches in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea, three of the countries hardest hit by the Ebola virus.

The virus has killed 4,033 people since the outbreak was first reported in March of this year.

Written by Andrew Murrell.

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