Morocco refuses to host African Cup in January due to Ebola outbreak

Morocco has insisted the African Cup of Nations be postponed due to the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa, but the Confederation of African Football insists

Morocco has insisted the African Cup of Nations be postponed due to the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa, but the Confederation of African Football insists the tournament must go on as planned.

According to the Associated Press, the CAF is threatening to sanction Morocco if the tournament does not proceed as originally scheduled. 

Saturday was the deadline for Morocco to confirm to CAF that it would host the tournament in January, according to the BBC. Now that the country has refused, CAF will meet Tuesday in Cairo to determine whether the tournament will be postponed—either until June, or until January 2016—or if it will take place this January in a different country.

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Morocco expressed concerns last month that large numbers of West Africans traveling for the tournament would create a health risk for Moroccans.

As a result of the outbreak, CAF canceled all international matches in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone canceled all soccer matches in the country.

- Dan Gartland