Morocco have been given until the weekend to decide whether they want to host next year’s African Nations Cup finals after the Confederation of African Football refused to consider a postponement of its tournament over Ebola virus fears.

Morocco must make clear its position by Saturday, said African football’s governing body (CAF) after a meeting in Rabat yesterday between prime minister Abdelilah Benkirane and a delegation led by CAF president Issa Hayatou.

Morocco want the tournament postponed to June next year or January 2016 because of fears of the possible spread of the Ebola virus, which has caused almost 5,000 deaths in West Africa.

But CAF stood firm on its determination not to change the schedule dates of Jan. 17-Feb. 8 despite the fact it now runs the risk of having no host for the 2015 finals.

But it did open the door for any other country interested in stepping in as emergency hosts, saying they also had until Saturday to decide.

“Of the three countries where the epidemic is prevalent, only Guinea retains a chance of qualifying for the final tournament,” the CAF said.

“CAF considers that the current health system in place in Morocco, and whose effectiveness has been proven, is more than able to cope with the very limited flow of people for the Nations Cup,” its statement added.

CAF also said it had strictly adhered to World Health Organization directives, banning three countries from hosting preliminary matches, and that no transmission of the Ebola virus had been reported “in connection with a match”.

It also said an expansive schedule did not permit it to change dates.