Magharebia (Washington DC)

North Africa: Maghreb Football Sides Join Fight Against Aids

21 January 2013

The football teams of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco are using their participation in the African Cup of Nations to help fight AIDS in Africa.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has thrown its weight behind the United Nations' "Protect the Goal" campaign against HIV/AIDS, taking advantage of the 2013 CAN 2013 finals as a platform to spread the message across the continent.

"CAN is a great way to reach people in Africa and outside it. This is our moral and humanitarian responsibility as a responsible organization," CAF President Issa Hayatou said in Johannesburg.

UNAIDS executive director Michel Sidibé thanked CAF for its participation in the cause.

"Football is not about 22 players on the pitch, but is a tool to mobilise society," he said.

Before the Angola match, Morocco captain Nader Lemiaghri asked attending fans to support the fight against AIDS across Africa.

Algeria captain Mehdi Lacen and Tunisia skipper Aymen Mathlouthi will do the same thing before their match on Tuesday (January 22nd).

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