By Andrew Warshaw
August 1 – An outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in Sierra Leone has led to the Seychelles forfeiting Saturday’s African Nations Cup qualifier rather than risk the disease spreading to the Indian Ocean island. Sierra Leone were due to travel to the Seychelles for a second-leg tie only for the game to be called off on the advice of the host authorities.
Seychelles Football Association president Elvis Chetty told the BBC: “The decision is for Seychelles FA to forfeit the match. I would like to state that the Seychelles FA lays no blame at the feet of the Sierra Leone FA for this.
“We have taken the decision because of the advice sent to us by the Seychelles Ministry of Health. We also received a letter from the Ministry of Immigration saying it would not allow the Sierra Leone team to enter our jurisdiction. They are asking us to postpone the game for an indefinite period, so we feel it is right to forfeit now rather than drag it out.”
As result, the Seychelles will automatically lose their place in the competition with Sierra Leone, who had led the tie 2-0, set to be awarded a place in the next stage of the qualifiers.
“Looking purely from a football point of view, I am extremely disappointed about the situation,” said Chetty. “The country has been more excited about this match than it has been for a long time.”
The Confederation of African Football confirmed Seychelles’ withdrawal in a statement after reports that Sierra Leone players and officials were barred from boarding a plane in Nairobi, Kenya, that was to take them to the Seychelles capital of Victoria.
Speaking to the local media, Seychelles Health Commissioner Dr Jude Gedeon defended the precautionary move by citing World Health Organisation concerns that the disease could also be spread by air travel as well as across land borders.
“It is our own decision, to prevent any exposure,” he said. “We cannot let down our guard on the population. Decisions have to take into account possible repercussions to our national economy, tourism, while also being in conformity to United Nations conventions.”
But Chetty is worried the decision may lead to punishment.
“We are currently working on a case to present to CAF to explain that the decision was taken by the authorities,” he said. “We may face sanctions, we can be banned for three years and even face financial repercussions.”
Hundreds have died in West Africa from Ebola, for which there is no known cure, the worst affected countries being Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia where all schools have been closed. The disease has no vaccine and a 60% fatality rate.
In Liberia all games gave been called off and it is anticipated that a planned visit by FIFA president Sepp Blatter may also be postponed if there is no improvement in the situation.
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