adminJOHANNESBURG. — Morocco have withdrawn their rights to host the African Cup of Nations soccer finals next year due to fears of Ebola, which has ravaged a number of African nations over the last few months.
Morocco government, through the federation, had given Caf three scenarios to either let them host the 2017 Afcon, Caf to postpone Afcon 2015 to 2016 or they pull out completely and take any consequence from Caf but after the African football body failed to respond the government of Morocco yesterday morning announced their decision to pull out to avoid the risk of Ebola spread to their nation,
A close source at the Ministry of Sports intimated, “Since Caf rejected all our requests and suggestions then we are forced to withdraw from hosting Afcon 2015 with immediate effect to preserve the safety of our citizens and for that we are prepared to take any consequences that comes with our actions,” the source who sort anonymity said.
The withdrawal of Morocco has tipped South Africa as the next hosts after Safa President Danny Jordan met with Caf president Issa Hayatou to discuss the matter while also Sudan put up their request to Caf to be considered as an alternative host country.
South Africa was initially scheduled to host the tournament in 2017 following the withdrawal of Libya as hosts due to ongoing fighting there.
Egypt meanwhile had also indicated interest in hosting next year’s Nations Cup, stating its confidence in organising the competition under short notice.
Afcon 2015 is scheduled to take place between January 17th to February 8th 2015. Morocco will be subject to severe sanctions including suspension of their national teams and clubs.
Meanwhile, Cape Verde defeat Mozambique 1-0 on Wednesday to become the first qualifiers for the 2015 African Cup of Nations after a dramatic match day 4 of qualifying.
The Blue Sharks were later joined by Algeria as goals from Yacine Brahimi, Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani earned the Desert Foxes a 3-0 triumph over Malawi in Blida.
Algeria are the only team with a perfect record after four rounds and lead Group B by six points from Mali with Ethiopia and Malawi three points further behind.
Democratic Republic of Congo stunned Ivory Coast 4-3 in Abidjan while title-holders Nigeria overcame Sudan 3-1 to get back into contention for a place among the 16 finalists.
Ghana stayed on track to qualify with a 3-1 home win against Guinea and shock 2012 champions Zambia trounced visiting Niger 3-0 to end an embarrassing winless streak.
Angola, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Togo and Tunisia also won while the South Africa-Congo Brazzaville and Burkina Faso-Gabon matches were drawn.
Heldon Ramos was the toast of Cape Verde – a group of islands off Senegal with a population of less than a million – by scoring the 76th-winner in Praia.
The islanders debuted in the Cup of Nations last year and exceeded expectations by reaching the quarter-finals after holding hosts South Africa and Morocco and defeating Angola.
Cape Verde have nine points in Group F, Zambia and Mozambique five each and Niger two with the final two match days scheduled for mid-November.
Although Zambia and Mozambique could finish level on points with Cape Verde, the island nation would secure a place on the head-to-head rule.
Ivory Coast conceded four goals for the second time in three games as they wiped out a two-goal deficit with 10 men only to be beaten by a late goal.
Franck Kessie was red-carded just after half-time with his team trailing 3-1, but a brace from former Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou restored equality. — AFP
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