EVD may force AFCON 2015 out of Africa

Tuesday’s disqualifi­cation of Morocco from the AFCON 2015 finals for failing to host the championship in January as scheduled by the Confederation of African Football over fears of the Ebola virus, has taken a new twist as the soccer ruling body is contemplating tak­ing the event outside of Africa if all other ar­rangements currently on fail to yet any positive outcome.

This new line of action according to French press reports states that the host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup has been ap­proached by CAF to host the championship as a shift in the date already set will alter the plans for other continental championship lined up for 2015. If the plans of CAF goes ahead, it would mean that Qatar are the surprise candidate to host the Africa Cup of Nations starting in Janu­ary, according to French press reports. Though, Nigeria and Egypt are candidates to replace Mo­rocco who pulled out of staging the event in Janu­ary because of the Ebola outbreak, L’Equipe and Le Parisien reported Wednes­day that Qatar has been approached by the Confed­eration of African Football to see if it would be willing to step in.
However, the Gulf State of Qatar last night refuted reports it offered to host the AFCON 2015.
“It is illogical,” said Saud al-muhannadi, vice president of the Qatar Football Association, re­ferring to the report.