CAF General Secretary, Hicham El Amrani

JOHANNESBURG – THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially cleared Guinea to host international matches after the West African country was declared of Ebola.

CAF General Secretary, Hicham El Amrani, has confirmed the development in a letter addressed to the President of the Guinean Football Federation, Salifou Camara, on Monday.

He informed him of the lifting of the ban that prevented the member
association from hosting international matches on its territory due to the outbreak of the deadly 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.

“CAF thereby confirms lifting the ban on the organisation of continental matches in Guinea, and for all competitions organized by CAF,” El Amrani said.

The ban had been in effect since August 2014 at the height of the crisis.

The end of Ebola transmission in Guinea marks an important milestone in
the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

The original chain of transmission started two years ago in Gueckedou, Guinea in late December 2013 and drove the outbreak which spread to neighbouring Liberia and Sierra Leone and, ultimately, by land and air travel to seven other countries.

More than 11 000 people were killed from over 28 000 reported cases.

– CAJ News