CAF warns FUFA of Ebola spread
Aug 13, 2014
CAF has asked FUFA to watch out for a possible spread of the deadly Ebola virus during the forthcoming AFCON qualifiers next month.
By Swalley Kenyi
CAF has asked FUFA to watch out for a possible spread of the deadly Ebola virus during the forthcoming AFCON qualifiers next month.
Uganda Cranes are due to play Ghana, Togo and Guinea in the Group E 2015 AFCON qualifiers at home and away between September and November.
CAF’s directive to FUFA follows orders to Sierra Leone, Togo and Guinea to move their home qualifiers to neutral grounds because of the Ebola outbreaks in their countries.
At their weekly press briefing at Mengo on Wednesday, FUFA president Moses Magogo acknowledged the CAF communication. He said that CAF had directed the federation to work with the medical staff in the country to ensure safety of visitors and the local fans in the period of the matches.
“We have a communication from CAF to work with government officials and we are already in contact with government officials to follow the directive for our own safety and that of our visitors,” Magogo said.
Uganda’s first group stage match is against Ghana away on the weekend of September 6. According to the BBC Sport, CAF says the preventative measure will remain in place until mid-September.
The CAF letter says that "each national association receiving delegations must communicate the necessary information delivered by health authorities to ensure the reception of teams... and if necessary to provide additional checks at arrival points".
World Health Organisation has reported 1848 cases of Ebola, which have resulted in 1013 deaths mainly in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.
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