Nigeria opts out of hosting Nations Cup after Morocco withdraw over ebola fears

NIGERIAN sports officials have ruled out putting in a bid to host the 2015 African Cup of Nations after Morocco pulled out of the event amid fears that some of the visiting fans might bring along the dreaded ebola virus disease (EVD).

Since the first outbreak in the summer, EVD has spread across West Africa, with about 4,500 people dying from the virus, with Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia being the most affected countries. Fearful that the virus may be brought to their country when they host the 2015 African Cup of Nations in January/February this year, Moroccan officials have decided to pull out of hosting the tournament.

Subsequently, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) has suspended Morocco from the tournament and is currently looking for another host. Nigeria has been touted as a possible venue, given the country's penchant for stepping in to host continental meetings as it did in 2000 when Zimbabwe was unable to host the Nations Cup but sports ministry officials have dismissed this possibility.

Morocco, which last staged the finals in 1988 and which would host Fifa’s Club World Cup next month, had asked for the competition to be shifted to either June 2015 or January 2016. After series of meetings, Caf rejected their proposal and instead expelled them from the competition.

Several countries have now been listed as standby venues including Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana and this list has since expanded to include Algeria, Angola and Equatorial Guinea. However, one very highly placed sports ministry official who would have possibly served as the chairman of the local organising committee, said Nigeria would not bid and that was the official position of the government.

He added: “We are not in any way asking to take over. Nigeria won’t host the competition and that is the position.”

Many Super Eagles see hosting the tournament a window of opportunity to qualify for the competition following the Eagles’ precarious position in Group A. Nigeria is currently trailing behind South Africa and Congo in the group with just two matches left which the Eagles must win to stand any chance of qualifying.

Nigeria's players are currently camped in Abuja ahead of their make-or-break game with Congo in Pointe Noire on Saturday. Super Eagles head coach Stephen Keshi expressed confidence in the ability of the team, adding that he was positive about their fitness and readiness for the clash.