体坛英语新闻：AFCON qualifier between South Sudan, Uganda canceled over coronavirus fears

JUBA, March 13 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier match against Uganda, slated for March 30 in Nairobi, Kenya, has been canceled over Coronavirus fears, the African country's football governing body said Friday.

South Sudan was set to host neighboring Uganda in the second leg of the AFCON tier in Kenya's Nyayo Stadium because the country's only national stadium is under renovation.

Francis Amin, President of the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) said the Kenyan government has canceled the encounter over concerns about the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

"Yesterday (Thursday) we received a letter from Kenya that the match has been suspended and canceled because of the coronavirus," Amin said during a meeting with South Sudanese government officials on Friday.

Amin also cast doubts about the future of next week's first leg game in the Ugandan capital, Kampala after authorities tightened entry restrictions for people coming from coronavirus-hit countries.

South Sudan has no case of the coronavirus but the majority of its national soccer players are based in countries affected by the virus such as Australia and the United States.

Amin said over 10 South Sudanese players might not be able to join their local counterparts due to travel restrictions issued by the governments of Uganda and South Sudan respectively.

"We also received a letter from Uganda that all players coming from the countries affected by the coronavirus have to be quarantined for 14 days," Amin said.

Amin asked the government of South Sudan to advise the SSFA on the next steps to be taken.

"We are in a complex situation that is why we have come to the ministry of foreign affairs and health to get advice," Amin said. "We just need advice and so that we can respond to CAF (Confederation of African Football) whether to cancel or continue with the match."

While responding to the SSFA, Makur Koriom, Undersecretary of South Sudan's ministry of health advised the football governing body to suspend participating international football events as a precautionary measure against the COVID-19.

"Our advice is that you write to your counterparts to stop it. Talk to the organizers to do the right thing," Koriom said.