By James Robert Kayindi
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has put Togo’s Ebola concerns into its considerations following their request to relocate their tie against Guinea away from the Guinea land. CAF yesterday asked Guinea FA (FEGUIFOOT) to find a new venue for its AFCON qualifier game against Togo.
As reported early this week, the Togolese Football Association (TFF) submitted a formal request to CAF about their concerns on the outbreak of Ebola in Guinea where they are due to head for their group E opener against Guinea in the 2015 AFCON qualifiers. The Togolese Football Association suggested that there is need to take preventive measures to avoid spread of the lethal Ebola virus amongst nations through the game. Togo is scheduled to face Guinea on 5th September.
TFF president Gabriel Ameyi is previously quoted by guineefoot.info saying that, “we fear that our players and officials would be at risk of getting infected by the virus once they are made to play their qualifier match in Guinea”. CAF in their additional requests apart from game relocation suggested that the FEGUIFOOT should take visible action in the bid to implement preventive measures to control the spread of the Ebola virus. On this note therefore, CAF suggested that members of the various Guinean delegations and players will be examined from Conakry as one of the moves to ensure that none of them is infected with the Ebola virus. CAF’s decision will also affect Guinea‘s U17 team match on 29thSeptember against their Togo counterparts in the 2015 Africa Youth Championship qualifiers.
According to ftftogo.com, Guinea has the mandate to choose a country of their own choice where this tie can be played and will communicate to CAF the name of the country which they will have chosen to be the host for their two upcoming international meetings. Guinea and Togo are in Group E alongside Uganda and Ghana. Ghana will host the Uganda cranes on the 5th of September.