Toure appeals to fans to be patient over Ebola tests

Cote d’Ivoire defender, Kolo Toure, has appealed to fans coming to the venues of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations to be patient while Ebola screening is carried out before they gain entrance to the different stadia for the matches.

Supporters and police clashed before a number of games because of delay in carrying out the Ebola tests outside the grounds. This has prompted World Health Organisation (WHO) workers, who are carrying out the screening, to discuss concerns over their safety.

But the Liverpool defender has urged the fans to be patient.

“I think the fans need to know that they have to be checked, definitely,” Toure told BBC Sport.

“Ebola exists and sometimes people – when they don’t have people around them who have it – don’t believe in it. But I think people need to know that Ebola is there and we all need to make sure that this disease doesn’t increase.

“It’s very important that people just think you can get it in the stadium, because one guy [could have] it and that’s why I think it’s very important to be checked. It’s the most important [thing], more important than the game because nothing is more important than life.”

Equatorial Guinea are the stand-in host after Morocco’s call for the postponement of the competition over a possible outbreak of the disease was rejected by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in November.