AFCON 2015: Nigeria Signals Interest As Emergency Hosts

 Yomi Kazeem Sports

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VENTURES AFRICA – A few weeks ago, Morocco- original hosts of the 2015 AFCON event- requested that the event be postponed due to the threatening resilience of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease after consultations between the country’s Ministry of Health and football officials. While the Confederation of African Football has refused the request for a postponement, they have also been put on red alert as they kicked off a search for alternative hosts in the event that Morocco withdraws their hosting rights.
In what will no doubt be received as good news by CAF, Nigeria has signaled an interest in hosting the event. The sentiment was expressed by a member of the newly elected board of the Nigerian Football Federation, vice president, Seyi Akinwunmi.
Akinwunmi told reporters that Nigeria has the ability, infrastructure and capacity to host the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations if requested by CAF seeing as there is a l
ack of certainty over Morocco’s current status.
The vice president of the Nigeria Football Federation believes Nigeria can step up to the plate and host the showpiece event- something it has done twice in 1980 as lone hosts and in 2000 as co-hosts, alongside Ghana.
Since Morocco’s initial request, CAF have reportedly contacted as many as five countries to discuss the possibility of hosting the event and the body will be pleased to hear that Nigeria, a football powerhouse on the continent, could be a willing option.
“I think we are interested,” Seyi Akinwunmi said in an interview with Goal.
“It is not strictly the purview of the NFF alone but we have been asked if we can host the competition and we have said yes, why not? I think that the National Sports Commission or the Federal Government is looking at the possibility of hosting the tournament,” Akinwunmi added
One of the major positives that Nigeria will have should a decision be required to be made by CAF is that the country is currently a leading light with regard to the containment and eventual eradication of the Ebola Virus Disease after the country successfully managed to curtail the spread of the virus despite recording as many as 20 cases. The highlight of Nigeria’s successful containment of the deadly disease was World Health Organization’s certification of Nigeria as ‘Ebola-free’ after a 42 day period in which no new cases were reported.
As it stands, South Africa appear to have already turning down the opportunity to host the 2015 AFCON with President of the South Africa Football Association, Danny Joordan quoted as saying: “The AFCON 2015 tournament will not be held here. That issue doesn’t exist. CAF must discuss this matter with Morocco.” This leaves CAF with fewer options as South Africa appear to be the most qualified in terms of sporting infrastructure, largely due to the huge investment as a result of hosting the 2010 World Cup.
A decision from CAF with regards to hosting the 2015 event is expected to be made in mid-November and with Nigeria emerging as an alternative, CAF will be pleased to know that it may have viable options.