体坛英语新闻：CAF maintains Nations tournament, warns Morocco

RABAT, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- African football confederation rejected on Monday to postpone the dates of the 2005 African Nations Cup to be held in Morocco as requested by this North African country due to Ebola, official sources revealed in Rabat.

Moroccan authorities have until the end of the week to confirm whether they will go ahead with hosting next year's African Nations Cup, CAF's boss Issa Hayatou said during a meeting on Monday with Moroccan Premier Abdelilah Benkirane and members of the local football confederation.

CAF said the date would not be changed, as requested by Morocco to be moved June or even January 2016, and give Morocco an ultimatum until Saturday to make clear its position.

The 2015 Africa Cup of Nations is scheduled to be held in Morocco from January 17 to February 8.

Last October Morocco's health ministry asked the government to "to avoid events which involve those countries affected by the Ebola virus".

CAF considers that the current health system in place in Morocco, whose effectiveness has been proven, is more than able to cope with the very limited flow of people for the Orange AFCON 2015, said a release published on the CAF website.

The CAF schedule has expanded over the years and currently counts 11 competitions. Any change in the timing of events would be detrimental to the rest of the agenda, including the African Nations Championship (CHAN) scheduled for January 2016 in Rwanda, which CAF will also maintain at the same dates, the release added.

Thus, the Executive Committee of CAF confirms its commitment to keep the competition on the dates indicated, while asking the Moroccan Football Federation to clarify the final position of Morocco not later than 8 November, 2014, it said.

A meeting of the Executive Committee will be held on November 11, 2014 in Cairo, Egypt to take the necessary decisions.

Possible stand-in countries - South Africa, Egypt and Sudan - have all declined to host the tournament in Morocco's place.