Morocco will be barred from the next two Africa Cup of Nations as punishment for refusing to host the 2015 edition in January-February, Confederation of African Football president Issa Hayatou said on Saturday.
“We are going to stick to the rules, that means elimination from the next two Nations Cups,” Hayatou told France’s L’Equipe sports daily.
“On top of that there will be the financial and moral damages to calculate.”
Morocco are facing a US$20 million (Dh73.4m) fine for refusing to host the 2015 Cup in its scheduled January 17-February 8 slot over fears of the spread of the deadly Ebola epidemic to the popular tourist destination, Morocco’s Le Matin newspaper suggested this week.
The north African state had called for the Cup to be postponed, but organisers CAF rejected their request, stripping them of their position as hosts and barring them from playing in the continental showcase.
Oil-rich Equatorial Guinea, which co-hosted the 2012 edition with Gabon, were named as Morocco’s replacement as hosts for the troubled 2015 tournament on Friday.
Aside from the former Spanish colony in west Africa who now qualify automatically, three countries are assured of their place in the troubled 2015 Cup - Tunisia, Algeria and Cape Verde Islands.
There are 12 qualifiers scheduled for Saturday with defending champions Nigeria needing a victory in Congo Brazzaville to have a realistic chance of qualifying.
Meanwhile, South Africa qualified for the African Cup of Nations on saturday with a 2-1 win over Sudan in the team’s first game since the killing of captain Senzo Meyiwa.
South African players wore black armbands and there was a minute’s silence before the Sudan game for goalkeeper Meyiwa, who was fatally shot in an apparent house robbery in a township near Johannesburg last month.
The Sudanese team even held up a picture of the popular Meyiwa before kick off at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban in their own tribute.
The home side then sealed their place in Equatorial Guinea early next year with goals by Thulani Serero and Tokelo Rantie either side of half-time. Salah Ibrahim pulled a late goal back for Sudan in front of about 30,000 fans in Durban. The game was moved to the east coast city, Meyiwa’s hometown, in honour of the late goalkeeper.
Meyiwa had led South Africa through four games unbeaten in African Cup of Nations qualifying and had not conceded a goal in the competition before his death.
On Saturday, smiling South African players pulled off their team jerseys to reveal white T-shirts with messages of remembrance for Meyiwa as they celebrated their qualification.
“Well, I just wish he was here with us,” South Africa goalkeeper Darren Keet, who replaced Meyiwa in the line-up, said. “That’s what makes it the most emotional. He’s not here with us and everything is done. His memory will stay with us.”
Cameroon and Zambia also secured their places in the finals, bringing the number of qualified teams to six alongside new tournament host Equatorial Guinea.
Ghana lost 1-0 in Uganda and Mali fell 2-0 in Malawi to keep them waiting until the final round of qualifying games next week.
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