By Khaled Abdel-Rahman
RABAT
Morocco insists on delaying the Africa Cup of Nations tournament – known by its French acronym, CAN – due to the threat of the deadly Ebola virus, hinting that his country would not host the competition, which is scheduled to kick off next January.
"The decision to delay the CAN is final until the situation is clear on Ebola," Sports Minister Mohamed Ouzzine told Anadolu Agency. "We can host it in the future if Ebola is defeated."
But he asserted that, while the country was determined to delay the event, the authorities were nevertheless keen to host the tournament, stressing that Morocco was not trying to wriggle out of its commitment.
"The issue concerns Africans' health; we cannot risk their health in light of the latest World Health Organization indications, as no cure has yet been found for the virus," he said.
"Africans' health is a priority for Morocco. Therefore, the country made the request to delay the tournament," he added.
If African football's governing body, the CAF, declined the request, Ouzzine said Morocco would not object if another country assumed the honor.
He rejected the notion, however, that CAF might impose sanctions on his country for failing to host the tournament.
On Friday, Morocco officially requested to delay the tournament over fears the deadly virus could be brought into the country through African fans who are expected to flock to Morocco for the event.
In recent months, Ebola – a contagious disease for which there is no known treatment or cure – has killed at least 4,024 people in West Africa, according to the World Health Organization.
The virus has also appeared in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other countries outside Africa.
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