Nigeria Interested in hosting Afcon 2015 If Morocco pull out

Nigeria could host the
2015 Africa Cup of
Nations if Morocco pull
out of staging the
continent’s biggest
football showpiece due to fears over the spread
of the Ebola Virus Disease, according to Seyi
Akinwunmi, vice president of the Nigeria Football
Federation.
While the north African country is mauling over
the decision whether to pass up the opportunity
to host the tournament, the Confederation of
African Football (CAF) has already written to a
few countries including Ghana and Egypt to ask if
they can host the Cup of Nations.
Morocco asked CAF to postpone the tournament
to a later date instead of its present January/
February schedule but the governing body is not
ready to.
Nigeria could throw her hat in the ring to stage
the tournament despite fears of the possibility of
teams from Ebola-ravaged countries qualifying
for the competition and bringing along their
supporters.
Africa’s largest country was certified Ebola-free
by the World Health Organisation on Monday, six
weeks after the last case of the disease was
reported and this could prompt renewed interest
from international organizations.
“I think we are interested [in hosting the Afcon],”
new NFF vice president Seyi Akinwunmi told Goal
on Monday.
“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,” said
Akinwunmi who disclosed that CAF had not yet
written to Nigeria.
South Africa have already turned down the
opportunity to host the tournament with Safa
president Danny Joordan saying: "The Afcon
2015 tournament will not be held here. That issue
doesn't exist. Caf must discuss this matter with
Morocco.”
With the Super Eagles struggling to qualify for the
2015 tournament, hosting the competition would
give them automatic qualification to defend the
title they won in South Africa last year.
It could also be a way for Nigeria to show its
leadership role on the continent after successfully
curtailing the spread of the disease, something for
which it has already earned the praise of the
international community.