Morocco will not host the
2015 Africa Cup of
nations, it has emerged.
Instead, the country has
asked for the tournament
to be shifted to 2016 to prevent the possible
spread of the Ebola virus disease that has
ravaged three countries in west Africa.
It is evident that Caf will now need to shop for
new hosts, less than two months to the start of
the tournament on January 17, 2015.
In a press release by the sports minister
Mohammed Ouzzine, Morocco maintained its call
for the tournament to be postponed to 2016,
while the next tournament would hold in 2017 to
enable it return to its regular odd year format.
Morocco suggested that it could be done since
Caf held back-to-back tournaments in 2012 and
2013, when it was shifted to the odd year.
During a parliamentary session on Tuesday,
Morocco’s sports minister was quoted as saying:
“The Kingdom has no intention of giving in to the
injunctions of CAF because the health risk is too
large.”
Surely embarrassed by this last minute change,
Caf is expected to meet on November 11 where it
would announce replacement hosts for the
tournament.
While South Africa and Ghana have opted against
hosting the tournament, Nigeria seemed to be showing interest in hosting the Nations Cup few weeks ago.
Reports also indicate that 2010 hosts, Angola,
could be a possible option.
Caf would also decide on punishment for
Morocco’s late no show which would be seen as
a betrayal of trust seeing that the country would
host the Fifa Club World Cup next month.
The World Health Organisation has not expressly
ruled out large gatherings as against what the
Moroccan authorities have put out.
Morocco’s football will be the poorer as it is
expected to be banned for four years from all
continental competitions as well as the payment
of a huge fine.
The final round of qualifying matches for the
2015 Afcon will take place on November 15 and
19 across the continent while Caf has already
asked interested media to apply for accreditation
to cover the tournament.
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