Morocco fined, banned for failing to host 2015 Africa Cup of Nations

Morocco's decision to back out of hosting the Africa Cup of Nations was a costly one.

The nation's football federation was fined $1 million by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Friday for its failure to host this year's tournament amid fears that the Ebola virus would make its way across the border and into the northern African nation.

The CAF also wants to collect a further $9 million in compensation for material damage.

The fines come with another significant penalty. Morocco will be banned from competing in the next Africa Cup of Nations tournament in 2017 and 2019, which will surely impact the country financially as well.

Equatorial Guinea elected to host the tournament and managed to register its best performance, advancing to the semifinals before being eliminated by Ghana.

The decision to fine and ban Morocco was made by the CAF's executive committee, which explained that the extra $9 million would be compensation for costs the governing body, stakeholders and partners had to assume when the country backed out.

The Associated Press reported that the country was prepared to face a financial penalty, but had not anticipated being banned from future tournaments.