Ghana rejects Ebola-affected Sierra Leone's request to play AFCON qualifiers in Accra

Published on: 15 August 2014
Ghana rejects Ebola-affected Sierra Leone's request to play AFCON qualifiers in Accra
Sierra Leone were seeking to play DR Congo in Accra in the AFCON qualifiers

The government of Ghana has refused a request by Sierra Leone’s national team to play its 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against DR Congo in Accra next month.

CAF instructed countries being attacked by the Ebola virus to find venues away from their respective countries for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations’ qualifying series.

But Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Hannah Tetteh said at a news conference Thursday that even though it was a matter to be addressed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the football authorities, it could not be granted.

She stated the government’s position on the matter was “indirectly saying that this is not an available venue for the playing of such a match.”

Ms. Tetteh explained that “if we as Chair of ECOWAS and if ECOWAS as an entity has taken a decision to limit the meetings to only those that are absolutely necessary, and to ensure that even those that take place are properly monitored, then you realize that we are in difficult times and difficult times require difficult responses.”

Sierra Leone is one of the four countries stricken by the deadly Ebola virus. It has recorded a total of 783 cases as of August 11, 2014.

The number includes 53 new cases and 19 deaths, according to the World Health Organization.

Meanwhile, the number of people killed by the Ebola virus in West Africa has risen to 1,069.

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