Equatorial Guinea step in to replace Morocco in hosting African Nations Cup

Equatorial Guinea will host the 2015 African Nations Cup after Morocco was stripped of the event having asked for it to be postponed over fears of the spread of the Ebola virus.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) have confirmed this morning that the oil-rich Spanish-speaking Equatorial Guinea, one of Africa’s smallest countries with a population of just over 600,000 will now host the competiton.

Back in 2012 Equatorial Guinea hosted the finals with neighbours Gabon, but come mid-January they will take on the 16-team tournament on their own. Morocco was on Tuesday stripped of the right to host the finals with the north African country also disqualified from taking part in the tournament after its request for a postponement was rejected by CAF.

CAF said the decision on the new hosts was made after a meeting in Malabo on Friday between Equatorial Guinea's president Teodoro Obiang and CAF president Issa Hayatou.

“The head of state of Equatorial Guinea agreed to host the competition. As a result, the CAF executive committee confirm that the tournament will go ahead and Equatorial Guinea will compete as the host nation,” a statement from African soccer’s governing body said.

Equatorial Guinea had been disqualified from the preliminaries in August for fielding an illegible player.

Matches will be held at four venues in Bata, Ebebiyin, Mongomo and the capital Malabo from January 17th to February 8th. In 2012, the tournament was hosted in Malabo and Bata.

The draw for the finals will be in Malabo on December 3rd, with the CAF adding that they wish “to express its sincere thanks to the Equatorial Guinean people, its government and particularly president Obiang.”