Morocco has decided to go ahead with its commitment to postpone the African Nations Cup finals due in January amid fears over the spread of the Ebola virus.
Morocco officials, who want the 16-team event postponed, said they had rejected an ultimatum set by the Confederation of African Football to confirm their hosting of the continental championship, set from January 17 to February 8.
A decision on the tournament will now be made next week when CAF have an executive committee meeting in Cairo but Morocco are almost certain to be stripped as hosts, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Moroccan Youth and Sports Minister Mohamed Ouzzine, however, suggested the public may boycott the tournament and players based in Europe would not take part, rendering it a flop for all concerned.
Ouzzine's country faces sanctions because it withdrew as hosts, while CAF is gambling with a showpiece event that provides a major share of its income through marketing and television spoils.
CAF said Morocco's concerns are alarmist, notably the fear the competition will attract tens of thousands of visitors from west Africa where almost 5,000 have died because of Ebola.
The confederation believes there will be just a few thousand travelling fans and points out that only one country where Ebola has proven deadly, Guinea, are in the running to qualify.