2015 Africa Cup of Nations Venue: Latest Details, Reaction, Analysis

The 2015 Africa Cup of Nations host venue has finally been confirmed, after original host Morocco ceded its right to stage the tournament due to fears over the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

Continue for updates.

Friday, Nov. 14

Equatorial Guinea to Host Africa Cup of Nations

Equatorial Guinea has been chosen to host the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, which will take place between Jan. 17-Feb. 8, confirmed by the Confederation of Africa Football:

The decision marks quite the U-turn for Equatorial Guinea, as noted by TalkSPORT's James Fielden:

Tuesday, Nov. 11

CAF Confirms Morocco Won't Host 2015 ACN, Expels Nation

Morocco have been expelled from the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations after CAF officially acknowledged the nation's refusal to host the tournament, per an official statement:

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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 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.

[...] 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.

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Saturday, Nov. 8

Morocco Requests Postponement of Africa Cup of Nations

Morocco failed to meet a deadline set to come to an agreement about the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, demanding the tournament be postponed over fears of the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

Sky Sports broke the news:

BBC's Gary Al-Smith added the country's official statement, asking for the tournament to be moved to 2016:

Reuters added more, via Eurosport:

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The country, which had already said it wanted the 16-team event postponed, rejected an ultimatum set by the Confederation of African Football to confirm the hosting of the continental championship due to take place Jan. 17-Feb. 8.

A decision on the tournament will now be made next week when CAF have an executive committee meeting in Cairo but Morocco will almost certainly be stripped as hosts.

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CBC News Alerts confirmed the decision to pass on the deadline comes over fears of the current Ebola crisis faced by parts of the African continent:

Morocco were the strong favourites to host the tournament when nations confirmed their bids back in 2010, and the decision to hand 2015 AFCON to the country was made in 2011.

The Ebola outbreak prompted Morocco's government to contact the Confederation of African Football with a request to postpone the tournament in October, as reported by BBC Sport, but the request was denied.

Morocco don't appear to have any interest in hosting the tournament with the current fears surrounding several West-African nations, leading to the decision to miss Saturday's deadline.

The ball now lies in CAF's camp, as reported by The Blizzard's Jonathan Wilson:

AFCON is meant to start in three months' time, and with hosts Morocco now pulling out, the tournament is under real threat of cancellation. CAF will have to scramble to find a host capable of organising Africa's largest tournament on such short notice, unless an alternative can be reached with the Moroccan government.