Morocco won't hold Africa Cup [ARCHIVE MATERIAL 20130210 ]
(ANSAmed) - NAPLES, JANUARY 16 - Nobody wanted to host it over fears concerning the Ebola outbreak but African football confederation CAF - also to save its finances with revenues from television rights - has decided to go forward and Equatorial Guinea will host as of tomorrow the 30th edition of the Africa Cup, which was originally supposed to take place in Morocco. The tournament was postponed in December after the North African country refused to host it due to the outbreak of the deadly virus which has already killed over 8,000 people in Africa, mainly in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Of the three countries, only the first has qualified for the tournament.
The African soccer confederation then designated Guinea, which already hosted the cup with Gabon in 2012. The decision met with some opposition in the small central African country but the government has moved ahead, hushing opponents.
Egyptian daily Al-Ahram today said an activist was arrested in Bata, one of four cities hosting the games, because he was distributing leaflets and T-shirts urging citizens not to go to the stadium to avoid contagion. One of the tournament's risks is that stadiums will be empty. Already in 2012, some games were played with only a few hundred spectators and this time President Theodore Obiang Nguema personally bought 40,000 tickets for different games, distributing them among citizens.
As part of precautionary measures, players, staff members and journalists travelling from abroad will be visited to prevent infected people from entering the country.
Four cities have been involved in the organisation: Bata (which will host the first and final matches) and the capital Malabo, both part of the 2012 tournament, as well as Mongomo and Ebebiyin. These two cities in particular are worrying organizers given they had no time for new infrastructures with logistical problems including insufficient hotel accommodations. The first match between Equatorial Guinea and Congo will kick off tomorrow. Algeria is considered a possible Cup winner after eliminating Russia from the world Cup and losing to Germany in overtime.
The cup appears like the perfect occasion for new stars to shine, starting with the three forwards Sofiane Feghouli, Islam Slimani and Yacine Brahimi. The latter, a star at Porto, vies to replace stars like Drogba and Eto'o in the heart of Africans.
Algeria does not have an easy road ahead and will have three giants to fight - Ghana, Senegal and South Africa. Algerians will debut on January 19 against the ''Bafana Bafana''.
Top contenders include Ghana with Asamoah Gyan and Israeli coach Avram Grant who has decided to exclude Kevin-Prince Boateng, Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari. The Ivory Coast will be without Drogba and will rely on Yaya Touré.
Finally, Tunisia will strive to surprise everybody after being judged in good form following a 1-1 draw in a friendly match with Algeria. (ANSAmed)
Title : Soccer: Africa Cup starts with champions and Ebola checks
Description : Morocco won't hold Africa Cup [ARCHIVE MATERIAL 20130210 ] (ANSAmed) - NAPLES, JANUARY 16 - Nobody wanted to host it over fears conce...