Cape Town - The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that Morocco will no longer be hosting the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015.
In a statement published on CAF's website, the governing body acknowledged Morocco's insistence of having the tournament moved to a later date due to fears over the potential spread of the Ebola virus.
However, as has been stated several times in recent weeks, CAF have no interest in entertaining any such requests.
With this in mind they have already sounded out a number of potential replacements for the role of host nation, with the likes of South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya tipped to fill the breach.
As a result of Morocco's refusal to host the tournament on the originally stated dates, CAF have decided to exclude the country's senior side from taking part in the tournament.
A statement on CAF's website read:
"At its meeting on 11th November 2014 in Cairo, the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has taken note of the response of the Minister of Youth and Sports of the Kingdom of Morocco in a letter dated 8 November 2014 requesting the postponement of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations in 2015.
"This response clearly indicates that the Royal Moroccan Football Federation reiterated its refusal to hold the competition on the dates indicated (January 17-February 8, 2015).
"Therefore, having firmly and unanimously notified on 3 November 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 Organising Committee of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations will later apply the statutory provisions that are required due to a breach of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation regulatory and contractual provisions, including those set out in the Host Association Agreement signed between CAF and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation in April 2014.
"The Executive Committee took note of receipt by 10 November, 2014 of some applications of national associations confirming their desire to host the 2015 competition on the dates agreed. These applications are currently under review, and the Executive Committee will finalize the selection of the successful National Association shortly and confirm the place and date of the draw of the final tournament at the same time.
"The Executive Committee confirms the continuation of qualifiers match-days 5 & 6, which will be held during the month (14/15 November and 19 November), paving the way for the qualification of the 15 teams that will be joining the team of the host country.
"Accordingly, and following the refusal of the Moroccan party, the Executive Committee has decided that the national team of Morocco is automatically disqualified and will not take part in the 30th edition of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations in 2015."
In a statement published on CAF's website, the governing body acknowledged Morocco's insistence of having the tournament moved to a later date due to fears over the potential spread of the Ebola virus.
However, as has been stated several times in recent weeks, CAF have no interest in entertaining any such requests.
With this in mind they have already sounded out a number of potential replacements for the role of host nation, with the likes of South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya tipped to fill the breach.
As a result of Morocco's refusal to host the tournament on the originally stated dates, CAF have decided to exclude the country's senior side from taking part in the tournament.
A statement on CAF's website read:
"At its meeting on 11th November 2014 in Cairo, the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has taken note of the response of the Minister of Youth and Sports of the Kingdom of Morocco in a letter dated 8 November 2014 requesting the postponement of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations in 2015.
"This response clearly indicates that the Royal Moroccan Football Federation reiterated its refusal to hold the competition on the dates indicated (January 17-February 8, 2015).
"Therefore, having firmly and unanimously notified on 3 November 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 Organising Committee of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations will later apply the statutory provisions that are required due to a breach of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation regulatory and contractual provisions, including those set out in the Host Association Agreement signed between CAF and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation in April 2014.
"The Executive Committee took note of receipt by 10 November, 2014 of some applications of national associations confirming their desire to host the 2015 competition on the dates agreed. These applications are currently under review, and the Executive Committee will finalize the selection of the successful National Association shortly and confirm the place and date of the draw of the final tournament at the same time.
"The Executive Committee confirms the continuation of qualifiers match-days 5 & 6, which will be held during the month (14/15 November and 19 November), paving the way for the qualification of the 15 teams that will be joining the team of the host country.
"Accordingly, and following the refusal of the Moroccan party, the Executive Committee has decided that the national team of Morocco is automatically disqualified and will not take part in the 30th edition of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations in 2015."
