Morocco , hosts of the 2015 African Nations Cup, want the competition postponed, because of the raging Ebola virus in some African countries.

The Moroccan government made the call on Friday.

The biennial competition is scheduled to be held in the North African country from January 17 to February 8.

Morocco’s health ministry made the plea in the wake of their decision “to avoid events which involve those countries affected by the Ebola virus,” the MAP news agency quoted a government statement as saying.

The demand to delay the event has been lodged with the Africa Cup of Nations’ organisers, the Confederation of African Football.

More than 4,000 people have died in the Ebola epidemic that broke out in west Africa at the start of the year, according to the latest figures released by the World Health Organization.

Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone have been badly hit by the virus. Only Guinea and Sierra Leone are still in contention in the qualification series to determine the 15 teams that will join Morocco for the tournament. Liberia was eliminated in the earlier rounds.