This is huge news I wonder who will host this?The 2015 African Nations Cup is in jeopardy after Morocco announced on Saturday that they are no longer willing to host the January tournament 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.
"The decision is dictated by health reasons because of the serious threat of Ebola and the risk of its spreading," the ministry said in a statement.
The virus still rages in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Morocco are concerned over perceptions that could impact the nation's tourism industry.
CAF must now either choose to cancel the event or move it to another country.
Morocco face a ban from future tournaments for withdrawing as hosts. Libya have already withdrawn as the host of the 2017 finals.
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.
5 posters
African Nations Cup in jeopardy as Morocco refuse to host
Weather130-
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Age : 36
Location : Pittsburgh, PA
SBSP-
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I hate how this is every two years.
FCB-
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Age : 34
Location : Tampa, Florida, USA
They should move it to 2016 and have it every four years. Watching a major tournament like this every two years is great, but having it every 4 years will make it less disruptive to club seasons and give hosts more time to prepare.
There are only two games left for each team in qualifying. So go ahead and continue the qualification matches even if you decide to cancel the 2015 edition.
There are only two games left for each team in qualifying. So go ahead and continue the qualification matches even if you decide to cancel the 2015 edition.
Weather130-
- Posts : 4025
Age : 36
Location : Pittsburgh, PA
In this situation regarding Ebola with an outbreak like this would likely not help but I like the four year idea. Perhaps you finish up the 2015 tournament now and wait until 2016 to hold the tournament. I think if you do that and move the host country I think Morocco should still be allowed in since they seem to have a valid reason for not wanting the event held in 2015.
FCB-
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Location : Tampa, Florida, USA
Egypt beating Tunisia 1-0 away. We need one more goal to qualify as the best third place team.
FCB-
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Age : 34
Location : Tampa, Florida, USA
Looks like we aren't going to another Africa Cup of Nations.
The host country has been changed to Equatorial Guinea by the way.
The host country has been changed to Equatorial Guinea by the way.
Weather130-
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Age : 36
Location : Pittsburgh, PA
So this is Equatorial Guinea's 2nd tournament and both as hosts so they have never actually qualified. They were originally disqualified for fielding an ineligible player but are now back in due to being hosts which makes Morocco's situation odd since they are not out because of a sporting reason.
Glen Miller-
- Formerly known as : Glen Damon
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So no Morocco, Nigeria, or Egypt? Are any of the other stronger African teams missing?
FCB-
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Age : 34
Location : Tampa, Florida, USA
No, those are the only good teams missing. Seeing Libya get knocked out in the first round was a surprise though.
Keyser Söze-
- Posts : 3515
It really wasn't. After the cringe worthy hype of winning the "African Nations Championship" and the deflation of missing out on WC qualification by a technicality, it was pretty obvious we'd crash.
Egypt's fall from grace is pretty spectacular. From winning 3 ACN in a row to not even qualifying 3 times in a row. Golden generation well and truly over.
Egypt's fall from grace is pretty spectacular. From winning 3 ACN in a row to not even qualifying 3 times in a row. Golden generation well and truly over.
SBSP-
- Posts : 50010
When did Egypt last qualify for the World Cup?
Keyser Söze-
- Posts : 3515
1990. But they've always been bad at that.
SBSP-
- Posts : 50010
Even we've qualified more recently than that.
SBSP-
- Posts : 50010
Christ, 1990 is the only time they've actually competed in the WC since the war.
FCB-
- Posts : 733
Age : 34
Location : Tampa, Florida, USA
I was only a few months old when we played at the World Cup. I want to actually watch and remember a World Cup with Egypt in it. 2010 was our best chance. We were in our prime. Fucking Algeria! They were such a waste of space at the World Cup.
We had a chance in 2014, but I see that 6-1 whipping as karma for some of the shit that was going on in Egypt. And we could have been in a group with Germany, Portugal, and USA. We would have done worse than Ghana.
The revolution along with the retirement of Egypt's most important players is going to see Egypt in a very long developmental period. Salah is clearly our best player and he's quite young. The only other player that I see becoming similar to him in importance is Amr Gamal. He just tore his ACL so hopefully that doesn't affect his development. That's two star forwards, but our defense and midfield for the next coming years doesn't look promising.
We had a chance in 2014, but I see that 6-1 whipping as karma for some of the shit that was going on in Egypt. And we could have been in a group with Germany, Portugal, and USA. We would have done worse than Ghana.
The revolution along with the retirement of Egypt's most important players is going to see Egypt in a very long developmental period. Salah is clearly our best player and he's quite young. The only other player that I see becoming similar to him in importance is Amr Gamal. He just tore his ACL so hopefully that doesn't affect his development. That's two star forwards, but our defense and midfield for the next coming years doesn't look promising.