‘Equatorial Guinea saved Africa’

Equatorial Guinea’s decision to host the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is a big relief, Kwesi Nyantakyi, president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has said.

He told newsmen shortly after the Uganda- Ghana match at the Entenbbe Airport that the island’s intervention is timely.

“Equatorial Guinea coming on board is a big relief to the continent, CAF and the players taking part in the qualifiers. It would have been the first time since 1957 that the continent would skip the tournament.

“It would also have been a bad precedence. It would have been a disincentive to potential sponsors of the tournament,” Nyantakyi said.

Morocco, who were the original hosts, pulled out of the competition at the eleventh hour citing the deadly Ebola virus as their reason.

CAF’s attempt to prevail upon them to host the biennial competition came to naught, resulting in the football governing body slapping a ban on Morocco.

Last Thursday, Equatorial Guinea, co-hosts of the 2012 Nations Cup with Gabon, surfaced to salvage the situation.