Guinea dedicates AFCON progress to Ebola victims

Domany Dore, the Guinean minister of sports, has dedicated the national team’s qualification for the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a lucky draw, to the victims of Ebola in his country.

Nearly 22,100 people have been infected in the West African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone with some 8,800 deaths since the Ebola outbreak started in Guinea in December 2013.

“We dedicate the qualification for the AFCON second round to all Ebola victims,” Dore said.

“We are moving forward step by step on behalf of all Ebola-affected people; we hope a final victory will soothe the tears of all Guineans.”

Guinea was Thursday drawn by lots to reach the quarter-finals, eliminating Mali from the tournament after both had ended tied in the group stage scoring three goals and conceding three in three group-stage matches.

Guinea will now face Ghana in the quarter-finals on Sunday in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

Also speaking, Moustapha Naite, the youth employment minister, said the Ebola-stricken people of Guinea needed this great moment of delight.

“Guinean people have experienced a dire Ebola epidemic and I hope this qualification will help heal our grief,’’ he said.

In the other quarter-finals, Congo would play Democratic Republic of Congo in Bata on Saturday, same day Tunisia face hosts Equatorial Guinea.

Ivory Coast would meet Algeria in Malabo on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the WHO said the international fight against Ebola in West Africa was now focused on ending the outbreak.

Last week, about 100 new infections were reported in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.