Nigeria asks CAF to move U23 match in DR Congo
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Leadership
Nigeria’s National Sports Commission has asked the Confederation of African Football to move the U23 match scheduled in Lubumbashi against DR Congo because of Ebola-related concerns. The decision now depends on CAF’s response, according to Kola Daniel, the commission’s spokesman, quoted by Leadership.
Nigeria’s National Sports Commission has asked the Confederation of African Football to move the first leg of the Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match outside the Democratic Republic of Congo. The match between Nigeria’s and DR Congo’s Under-23 teams is due to be played in Lubumbashi, at TP Mazembe stadium, according to Kola Daniel, special adviser for media affairs to the commission’s director-general, quoted by Leadership.
The request follows concerns over reports of an outbreak of Ebola virus disease in DR Congo. The National Sports Commission is awaiting CAF’s response before deciding what action to take and is planning a strategic meeting on Monday with the relevant authorities to examine measures to protect the Nigerian delegation, Kola Daniel said.
The match is part of a two-legged tie to qualify for the U23 Africa Cup of Nations. The request comes after Nigeria had already reported two suspected Ebola cases and identified 53 contacts, according to the Nigerian health update.
