By James Robert Kayindi
Having been put under threat to be disqualified from the campaign, Ivory Coast have finally accepted to host Ebola stricken side, Sierra Leone. The Group D giants will go on to host Sierra Leone in their group opener of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers over the weekend.
The Ivorian government together with the country’s governing body were hesitant to host the group D clash opener over the concerns of Ebola that has greatly hit their weekend guests Sierra Leone. The development followed a change in the decision earlier made by the Ivorian Government which had refused to host the clash due to the fear of the consistently spreading Ebola virus that could be imported into the country by their guests who have been greatly hit by the epidemic.
“Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia remain the only countries required to relocate their fixtures to neutral territories as a result of the situation of the Ebola virus,” a statement on the CAF website clearly stated.
Earlier, the government in Abidjan had ruled that it would not be hosting any international sporting events in the country but have now allowed a Confederation Cup match and African Under-20 Championship qualifiers to be played. Due the unending fears of spreading the disease and minimizing the risks, Sierra Leone have named a squad of players based outside the country and given assurances that the coaching staff would be thoroughly checked before traveling.
2015 AFRICA CUP OF NATIONSQUALIFIERSWEEKEND FIXTURES
GROUP A
Sudan v South Africa
Nigeria v Congo
GROUP B
Ethiopia v Algeria
Mali v Malawi
GROUP C
Gabon v Angola
Burkina Faso v Lesotho
GROUP D
DR Congo v Cameroon
Ivory Coast v Sierra Leone
GROUP E
Ghana v Uganda
Guinea v Togo (To be played in Casablanca, Morocco because of fears over Ebola)
GROUP F
Zambia v Mozambique
Niger v Cape Verde
GROUP G
Senegal v Egypt
Tunisia v Botswana
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