A decision over whether Morocco will host the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) tournament is expected on Monday after a day of meetings between the Confederation of African Football (Caf) and Moroccan authorities.
The north African country asked for the tournament – due to begin on 17 January – to be postponed due to the risk of the spread of the Ebola virus affecting western Africa.
According to reports from the Algeria Press Service, the executive committee of the Caf met the federation’s president, Issa Hayatou, the Algerian Football Federation president, Mohamed Rauraua, and the Egyptian CAF delegate, Hani Abourida, on Sunday.
After recommendations from the national Health Ministry and the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Moroccan Ministry of Sport had asked for the tournament to be postponed to an unspecified date.
“Our concern is the health of Africa and, based on WHO reports and guidelines, we have to listen,” said the sports minister, Mohamed Ouzzine.
“Zero safety does not exist but one has to take the necessary precautions so that the coming tournament will be a football feast, bringing together our African brothers. But given the current Ebola situation we don’t think such a feast can take place as expected.”
However, the Manchester City and Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Touré, who played in his club side’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United on Sunday, believes the tournament should take place as scheduled.
“Me, I’m not really afraid,” Touré told French radio station Europe 1 on Saturday. “A very strong psychosis exists about this epidemic. The CAN is very important for Africa. It needs to take place.”
