The 2015 African Nations Cup is
in jeopardy after Morocco announced on
Saturday that they are no longer willing
to host the January tournament this
year because of fears over the spread of
Ebola.
Morocco had previously asked to
postpone the event, but African Football
Confederation (CAF) rejected that
request.
CAF then set a deadline of Saturday for
Morocco to confirm they will host the
tournament, but the nation's sports
ministry declined, sticking to their
request to postpone the tournament
until 2016.
In a lengthy statement posted on their
Facebook pager, the ministry wrote,
"Because of the occurrence of a force
majeure, namely the risk of the
pandemic Ebola virus and the adverse
and uncontrollable consequences that
could result... Morocco is making the
request to postpone the African Nations
Cup 2015/2016.
"With no other nation having taken the
opportunity to take over hosting rights
from Morocco, CAF officials face the
prospect of agreeing to Morocco's
demands to delay the tournament until
2016, or cancel it at great financial
cost."
CAF, which must now either choose to
cancel the event or move it to another
country, is due to respond to Morocco's
request at an executive committee
meeting in Cairo next week.
Morocco face a ban from future
tournaments for withdrawing as hosts.
Libya have already withdrawn as the
host of the 2017 finals.
The virus still rages in Guinea, Sierra
Leone and Liberia. Morocco are
concerned over perceptions that could
impact the nation's tourism industry.
Guinea and Sierra Leone are both still
eligible to qualify but at the bottom of
their respective groups. They have
played their home qualifiers in different
countries to minimise the risk of
exposure,
Previously affected by the virus, Senegal
-- whose team are in contention to
qualify -- was declared Ebola-free on
Oct. 17, while Nigeria -- the reigning
African champions and struggling to
qualify -- was given the same status by
the World Health Organisation three
days later.

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