AFCON dates will not change despite Ebola fears

The Africa Cup of Nations, due to be held from January 17 to February 8, will not be postponed because of the Ebola epidemic, an African football official said Monday.

Hosts Morocco had called for the tournament to be pushed back because of fears that an influx of several hundred thousand supporters could spread the virus which has killed more than 4,950 people in West Africa.

But Confederation of African Football media director Junior Binyam said after meeting with Moroccan officials that there would be no postponement and that a second meeting was slated for November 11 in CAF's Cairo headquarters to "take the necessary decisions".

Other changes Africa’s football authorities continue to wrestle with difficult decisions as they try to prevent their sport becoming a vector for spreading the Ebola virus.

With six rounds of Africa Nations qualifying scheduled between September 5 and November 19, CAF took the initiative in mid-August, deciding to forbid matches in Guinea and Liberia as well as Sierra Leone, where the government had already banned football games.

Some matches were moved while others remained in limbo. Some teams have been punished for refusing to play in locations the African Football Confederation (CAF) deems safe or against teams from Ebola-hit nations. Numerous countries have been forced to forfeit matches, including Sierra Leone.

The most deadly outbreak of Ebola on record has killed nearly 5,000 people, all but a handful of them in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.