fbpx

Ebola-Free Guinea Able To Host Matches Again

Ebola-Free Guinea Able To Host Matches Again

Guinea received positive news this week, as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) revealed that they are now cleared to resume hosting of football matches in the country, following a sufficient amount of time without new Ebola cases emerging in the nation.

This comes a month after Sierra Leone received the same news concerning their ability to welcome teams from all over the continent and world for football purposes.

A ban was placed on Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea concerning the hosting of such international matches in August 2014, following the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa.

The Ebola epidemic saw the deaths of more than 11,000 people since its outbreak over two years ago in Guinea, according to the WHO. Most of those victims came from the three hardest hit nations mentioned above.

The ban was installed when it became apparent that the virus could easily to transferred to people in large gatherings, such as sports events.

Liberia’s ban was lifted in May 2015 following the World Health Organisation’s declaration that the country was Ebola free.

As a result of the ban, the nations involved had to play their home fixtures in other countries, losing the element of home advantage.

In a letter signed by CAF General Secretary, Hicham El Amrani, which was addressed to the president of the Guinean Football Federation, Salifou Camara, the country was informed of the lifting of the ban that prevented the member association from hosting international matches on its territory due to the outbreak of the Ebola virus.

“CAF has learned with joy and relief the announcement by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 29 December 2015, officially confirming that Guinea is now declared Ebola free,” the statement read.

“CAF thereby confirms lifting the ban on the organization of continental matches in Guinea, and for all competitions organized by CAF,” the letter added.