CAIRO — Morocco was thrown out of the 2015 African Cup of Nations and stripped of its hosting rights Tuesday after refusing to commit to the scheduled dates early next year because of fears over Ebola. ADVERTISING CAIRO — Morocco
CAIRO — Morocco was thrown out of the 2015 African Cup of Nations and stripped of its hosting rights Tuesday after refusing to commit to the scheduled dates early next year because of fears over Ebola.
The Confederation of African Football said the tournament would now be hosted by another country. It didn’t announce which one, but said it had received “some applications” to replace Morocco.
CAF said in a statement that the applications from possible replacement hosts were now “under review.”
CAF repeatedly refused Morocco’s request to postpone the African Cup until 2016 because of fears over the spread of the deadly Ebola virus, which has killed about 5,000 people in West Africa. The African soccer body insisted the continent’s showpiece tournament must go ahead on the planned dates of Jan. 17-Feb. 8.
“Having firmly and unanimously notified … its decision to keep the competition on the dates indicated, the executive committee confirmed that the Africa Cup of Nations 2015 will not take place in Morocco,” CAF said.
CAF will decide on further punishments for Morocco for breaching its contractual obligations as host, the statement said.
Morocco wanted the tournament postponed for a year because it feared the possible spread of Ebola through tens of thousands of football supporters traveling for the three-week African Cup. It said over the weekend it wouldn’t stand down over its position, prompting CAF to take the tournament elsewhere.
Germany to host US in June
World Cup champion Germany said it will host the United States in an exhibition game in June.
Team manager Oliver Bierhoff made the announcement Tuesday. He also said Germany will play Australia on March 25 in Kaiserslautern, four days before its European Championship qualifier at Georgia.
While the U.S. Soccer Federation has had discussions with Germany’s governing body, the Deutscher Fussball Bund, the USSF does not announce exhibitions until a contract has been signed.
Germany beat the U.S. 1-0 in its final group stage match at the World Cup before going on to win the title in July.
From wire sources
