Equatorial Guinea, one of Africa’s smallest countries, is to host the 2015 African Nations Cup finals, the Confederation of African Football said on Friday.
The oil-rich Spanish-speaking nation hosted the 2012 finals with neighbours Gabon, but will take on the 16-team tournament on their own from January 17 – February 8, despite the fact they have only two major stadiums in the capital Malabo and Bata.
Previous hosts Morocco wanted the tournament postponed over fears of a spread of the Ebola virus, but CAF refused and on Tuesday stripped the north African country of the right to host the event.
It is not clear whether the new hosts will be able to play in the tournament. Equatorial Guinea were disqualified from the preliminaries for fielding an illegible player.
CAF said the decision on the new hosts was made after a meeting in Malabo between Equatorial Guinea’s president Teodoro Obiang and CAF president Issa Hayatou.
“The head of state of Equatorial Guinea agreed to host the competition. As a result, the CAF executive committee confirm that the tournament will go ahead and Equatorial Guinea will compete as the host nation,” a statement from African soccer’s governing body said.
The draw for the finals will be in Malabo on December 3. Matches will be held at four venues in Bata, Ebebiyin, Mongomo and the capital Malabo. In 2012, the tournament was hosted at Malabo and Bata.
“CAF wishes to express its sincere thanks to the Equatorial Guinean people, its government and particularly president Obiang,” the statement concluded.

Does this shatters our dream of playing in AFCON 2015.

2015 general election cost us the hosting right, it just a week after the tournament.

Nice one there from Caf. At last we finally have a host. It will be a waste of slot to give it to countries that have already qualified.

crownprince102:
2015 general election cost us the hosting right, it just a week after the tournament.

are you really sure? Because I know many Nigerians don't want Nigeria to host whether qualified or not.

khattab02:
are you really sure? Because I know many Nigerians don't want Nigeria to host whether qualified or not.

No u are wrong, many Nigerian wants us to get the automatic slot if we fail to qualify.

khattab02:
are you really sure? Because I know many Nigerians don't want Nigeria to host whether qualified or not.

No you are wrong, Nigerian wants an automatic slot. Its a miracle if we qualify do you know that.

crownprince102:

No u are wrong, many Nigerian wants us to get the automatic slot if we fail to qualify.

yeah, thats true. But my verdict, if we aren't good enough to qualify, I don't see us getting better when hosting. Lets try and qualify since our destiny is in our own hands.

crownprince102:

No you are wrong, Nigerian wants an automatic slot. Its a miracle if we qualify do you know that.

hmmm... If u ask me, is it really a miracle? Not really! our destiny is in our hands, Congo came here and beat us, we can also do the same to them but with hardwork, determination, team spirit and team play.

khattab02:
hmmm... If u ask me, is it really a miracle? Not really! our destiny is in our hands, Congo came here and beat us, we can also do the same to them but with hardwork, determination, team spirit and team play.

Like u said, Congo beat us at home. We also went to sudan and lost and took only a draw in SA. Our away form is very bad. Remember the fact that this team will only go for a draw and we must win. Our defence has been one of the worst in the series so far. Even sudan who 've never scored in the qualifying series scored twice against us. Our both central defender are bench warmer at their clubs, how fit are they. Its really a miracle if we qualify

crownprince102:

Like u said, Congo beat us at home. We also went to sudan and lost and took only a draw in SA. Our away form is very bad. Remember the fact that this team will only go for a draw and we must win. Our defence has been one of the worst in the series so far. Even sudan who 've never scored in the qualifying series scored twice against us. Our both central defender are bench warmer at their clubs, how fit are they. Its really a miracle if we qualify

lol.. True talk.



Lets hope and see, Nigerians are optimistic!