The Football Federation of Morocco on Thursday withdrew from hosting the 2015 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament with the qualification series nearing an end amid looming Ebola fears across the continent.

The Football Federation of Morocco yesterday announced that it withdrew from hosting the 2015 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament with the qualification series nearing an end due to Ebola fears across the continent.

Morocco is said to have written to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to postpone the tournament due to the fear of Ebola spreading across its territories, but CAF rejected the proposal.

Reports reveal that Morocco requested that the Nations Cup be moved to 2016 or the 2015 rights be handed to another country, while the 2017 edition is reserved for them. CAF rejected all the requests and the country backed out completely on Thursday.

If CAF confirms the withdrawal, Morocco will then be sanctioned, and all its clubs and national teams will be banned from continental engagements until the regulatory body decides otherwise.

Meanwhile, 2010 FIFA World Cup hosts, South Africa are on the verge of hosting the tournament contesting against Egypt and Sudan who have indicated interest to take it up from Morocco.

SAFA president, Danny Jordan met with CAF’s committee to discuss that the country host the tournament for a second time in a space of three years.

With South Africa hosting the tournament next year, Egypt would then have to take up the 2017 edition which had been awarded to Southern Africa.