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23.10.2014 Cup of Nations

AU says hosting AFCON 2015 in January possible but…

By MyJoyOnline
AU says hosting AFCON 2015 in January possible but
23.10.2014 LISTEN

The Africa Union Commission says it is possible for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to organize the next edition of the AFCON tournament in January, despite concerns over likely spread of the Ebola disease.

Hosts of the event, Morocco has asked CAF to postpone the games citing concerns over the possible spread of the Ebola virus disease.

The continent's football governing body, however, insists the date cannot be changed and has gone ahead to ask Ghana and South Africa to be on stand-by to host the games should Morocco pull out. Although South Africa has declined the request, Ghana is yet to respond to it.

Speaking to Joy News' Fred Smith in Accra Thursday, October 23, 2014, Chair of the AU Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma said CAF can go ahead with the games in January, 2015 but under strict adherence to safety guidelines.

“Our view is that if necessary precautions are taken it's possible for the games to take place,” Dr. Zuma stated before embarking on a tour to the three most affected countries- Guniea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

She nevertheless stressed on the need to take seriously, precautions, proper information and screening of passengers at points of departures and arrivals, of persons travelling to participate in the games.

“I think it's possible to host the games with proper arrangements,” she added.

Updates
About 4,877 people have died in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone after contracting the disease since its outbreak in the sub-region early this year.

In the United States, the government on Wednesday imposed new constraints on people entering the country from three nations at the center of West Africa's Ebola epidemic, mandating that they report their temperature daily and stay in touch with health authorities.

President Barack Obama expressed cautious optimism about the situation in the United States after meeting with his Ebola response coordinator, Ron Klain, and other top officials on Klain's first day on the job since being named on Friday. 

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's new restrictions on travelers arriving from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea marked the latest precautions put in place by the Obama administration to stop the spread of the virus. 

The steps stopped short of a ban on travelers from those countries demanded by some lawmakers. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Jerry Tsatro Mordy | [email protected]

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