African soccer tournament to go on despite Ebola fears

CAIRO, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- An important African soccer tournament will not be postponed over fears of spreading the Ebola virus, the organizing group said Monday.

The Confederation of African Football said the 16-nation 2015 Cup of Africa will go on as scheduled, from Jan. 17 to Feb. 8, 2015, adding Morocco has a week to decide if it will still host the event. The Moroccan government, after consulting with its health ministry, has suggested the tournament be postponed, referring to fears visiting West African soccer supporters could spread the Ebola virus.

The virus has killed over 5,000 people this year in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. There have been no reported cases in Morocco.

CAF has already asked seven African countries to investigate hosting the tournament if Morocco chooses not to.

"It should be noted that since the first edition in 1957, no Africa Cup of Nations has ever been a postponed or deferred," CAF, based in Cairo, said in a statement.

The Ebola outbreak has already affected African soccer. Sierra Leone has suspended all matches within the country; Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia have been banned by CAF from hosting international matches; and Seychelles forfeited the Cup qualifying round rather than host Sierra Leone.