The Seychelles have forfeited their African Nations Cup qualifying tie against Sierra Leone after refusing the west African nations soccer team entry over Ebola virus fears. Sierra Leone, which has declared a state of emergency to quarantine victims of the deadly disease, were due to face the Seychelles in a playoff second leg on Saturday but on Thursday were denied permission to board a Nairobi to Mahe flight. The Seychelles have since said they will forfeit the game, allowing Sierra Leone to advance to the next round. Seychelles Health Commissioner Jude Gedeon said regular World Health Organisation (WHO) alerts indicated that while the disease has so far been transmitted from epicentres in Liberia, Guinea-Conakry and Sierra Leone over borders by land, there are now strong indications it is also being spread by air travel. 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, the Seychelles News Agency quoted Gedeon as saying. Seychelles Football Association president Elvis Chetty told the BBC the decision to deny entry to the Sierra Leone squad had been made by the island nations health ministry. I would like to state that the Seychelles FA lays no blame at the feet of the Sierra Leone FA for this, he said. We have taken the decision because of the advice sent to us by the Seychelles Ministry of Health.
Posted on: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 16:38:18 +0000
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