The Executive Committee of the African Football Confederation (CAF) confirmed here on Tuesday that Morocco has been stripped of hosting the Africa Cup of Nations 2015, after taking into consideration a letter from the Moroccan Minister of Youth and Sport calling for postponing the event due to fears over the Ebola epidemic.
A statement by CAF said that the decision was taken during a six-hour meeting of the CAF executive committee at its Cairo headquarters.
CAF said that the response they had been given "clearly indicates that the Royal Moroccan Football Federation reiterated its refusal to hold the competition on the dates indicated." Morocco said since early October that its call for a postponement was "dictated by health reasons of the most dangerous kind, linked to the serious risk of the spread of the deadly Ebola pandemic." CAF statement added that "having firmly and unanimously notified on November 3 its decision to keep the competition on the dates indicated, the Executive Committee confirmed that the Orange Africa Cup of Nations 2015 will not take place in Morocco." The CAF statement also said that other countries had showed willingness to host the tournament and that a decision on that would be taken "shortly".
No replacement host has yet been named for the three-week tournament, which is scheduled from January 17th to February 8th.
However, CAF officials said up to three countries, including Angola and Gabon, could be in the running to replace Morocco.
With CAF's decision, Morocco, by default will not take part in the next tournament.
Source: KUNA