NYON/CAIRO: Africa’s Issa Hayatou and Europe’s Michel Platini are friends again writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

A war of words erupted between the two confederations after comments from UEFA president Platini over the staging of next year’s African Nations Cup in the context of the ebola health crisis.

Platini made his comments in the TV interview after which CAF accused him “treacherously” interfering. UEFA insisted Platini’s words had been misinterpreted and demanded an apology.

Initially the African confederation refused but has now retreated, possibly after taking into consideration the need for good relations with Europe’s clubs which resent releasing their top African players in midseason every two years.

CAF president Hayatou has written to Platini, conceding that his initial stance had been based on a misunderstanding of what had been said.

A statement from UEFA welcomed “the fact that the president of CAF, Issa Hayatou, has acknowledged in a letter to president Platini that the initial statement by CAF was based on unverified reports.”

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