The 2015 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will be held in Equatorial Guinea, the Confederation of African Federations said on Friday,
Matches will be held at four venues in Bata, Ebebiyin, Mongomo and the capital Malabo. In 2012, only Malabo and Bata were used.
The draw for the finals will be in Malabo on December 3.
Original hosts Morocco were stripped of hosting rights of the January 17 to February 8 tournament after insisting on a postponement due to the ongoing Ebola crisis in West Africa.
CAF refused to postpone the event and Morocco failed to confirm its commitment by last week’s deadline, forcing the continent’s governing body to seek new hosts.
Equatorial Guinea co-hosted the tournament with Gabon in 2012.
The decision to step in at short notice followed a meeting in Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, between the country’s President Teodoro Obiang and veteran CAF President Issa Hayatou.
Hayatou was quick to express his gratitude to Obiang for agreeing to his country stepping into the breach at the 11th hour.
“To agree to organise a competition like this two months before the event, you must admit you really have to be a true African,” Hayatou said.
Equatorial Guinea also drew praise from African Union chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
“The Ebola outbreak in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone should not paralyse continental programmes and events,” Dlamini-Zuma said.
“Like many other challenges the continent has faced in the past, the Ebola outbreak is being surmounted and is by no means a reason to stall the African Cup of Nations.
“Football is a unique unifying force of our continent and the world. We look forward to once again coming together and celebrating Africa together in the exhilarating 2015 AFCON tournament in Equatorial Guinea.
“We should remember that we have fought and defeated many tragedies including HIV/AIDS whose spread has been significantly halted. We will defeat Ebola.”
Morocco have been barred from the competition for failing to fulfill their obligations. Agency report.
