<<Print>>

South Africa has stated that it will not host AFCON 2015 in the event that CAF tells it to do so. Fikile Mbalula, the South African Minister of Sports and Recreation, released a statement on his official Twitter account Friday morning regarding speculation that South Africa will host the January 2015 tournament. The statement read: �We have noted media reports relating to South Africa possibly hosting African Nations Cup in place of Morocco in January 2015. It has been widely reported on the media that Morocco is alleged to have cancelled the hosting of the tournament on basis of Ebola fears and that South Africa could step in as a host. We must put it categorically clear that SAFA has not approached the Minister with regard to this possibility. Nevertheless as the Minister also reiterated during interviews throughout this week, there are just too many factors to consider for South Africa if we are too host a tournament of this magnitude. Our major concern of course remains the cost implications of such a tournament when South Africa is currently grappling with its own fiscal challenges. A tournament of this nature, if planned outside the normal budgetary cycle, will require budgetary adjustments, a process that is currently not an option. The tournament, as is also a concern for Morocco and many other countries in the world, may also pose a challenge on how we can grapple with the Ebola challenge engulfing the continent at the moment. We will however await pronouncements from SAFA on this matter and respond factually once all facts are put before us.� The President of the South Africa Football Association, Danny Jordan, echoed the declaration that his country will not host the event. �AFCON 2015 will not be held here. That issue does not exist and CAF must discuss this matter with Morocco,� Jordaan said at a press conference at SAFA House. Meanwhile the Government of Ghana is still considering whether to host the tournament in the event that Morocco pulls out.