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Rabat - South Africa refused on Monday to host the upcoming edition of the African Cup of Nations, scheduled to take place in Morocco from January 17 to February 8, 2015.
In a Tweet posted on Monday, South Africa Sport Minister, Fikile Mbalula, said his country has no intention of hosting the tournament if Morocco pulls out because of the Ebola epidemic.
"Hosting AFCON next year is a NO NO," the minister tweeted in response to a request from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Hosting AFCON next year is a NO NO
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) October 20, 2014
He followed it up an hour later with another tweet saying: "South Africa is not the Big Brother of Africa & thus we won't be hosting AFCON year after year,” he added.
South Africa is not the Big Brother of Africa & thus we won't be hosting #AFCON year after year...
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) October 20, 2014
Last week, Danny Jordan, the President of the South African Football Federation confirmed receiving a letter from the CAF regarding the possibility to host the CAN in case Morocco persists in requesting a postponement of the competition.
But he told the press on Friday that his country is not ready to be Morocco’s plan B, adding that he still needs to seek the opinion of the government.
“When Australia declared themselves as Plan B for the 2010 World Cup you all got angry at them,” he said.
“I think we should heed our own advice that it’s not right to make that announcement. Let’s wait for CAF to engage the Morocco FA [Football Association] on the matter first,” he added.
On October 10, Morocco asked the CAF to postpone the 2015 edition of the prestigious continental tournament, initially scheduled to be held in Morocco from January 17 to February 8.
Morocco’s request seeks to avoid the spread of the Ebola epidemic.
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