Latest reports inform that host of the 2015 African Cup of Nations, AFCON, Morocco has withdrawn from hosting the biennial tourney because of fears over the Ebola outbreak on the continent.

It would be recalled that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had last week received a letter from the Moroccan government asking for the tournament to be called off and had agreed to discuss the plans at the next executive committee meeting on 2 November.

It was gathered that the North African country had proposed to CAF, via the letter, that it either postpone the tournament until next year or allow them to switch to the 2017 edition instead.

However, Supersport reports that a source from the Moroccan’s Ministry of Sport claimed on Thursday, 16 October, 2014 that Morocco has now officially withdrawn in order to “preserve the safety of our citizens”.

“Since CAF rejected all our requests and suggestions then we are forced to withdraw from hosting 2015 AFCON with immediate effect to preserve the safety of our citizens and for that we are prepared to take any consequences that come with our actions,” said the source.

The Moroccan sports minister Mohamed Ouzzine was quoted earlier in the week saying they were considering what action to take if CAF continued to refuse their request to postpone the tournament.

 “We’ve arranged to meet up and discuss the technical options connected to this demand for a postponement,” he said.

“This demand is motivated essentially by the last report from the World Health Organisation, which contained alarming numbers at the extent and spread of the virus.

“All that means we are facing a historic responsibility. We understand CAF’s difficulty, but that said, never in history has there been such an Ebola epidemic.”

The 2013 hosts South Africa are now tipped to take over after reports that the country’s Football Association was already in negotiations with CAF, although Sudan and Egypt have also expressed an interest in hosting the tournament.

Morocco’s withdrawal is likely to lead to sanctions from the governing body, with potential punishments including the suspension of their senior national team.

Nigeria is the currently champions of AFCON after the West African country won the 2013 edition hosted in South Africa.