Moroccan authorities have accused the Confederation of African Football (CAF) of being against the development of the game on the continent and will contest sanctions placed on them for their decision not to host this year’s African Nations Cup.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) said that a steering committee had found no grounds for the country to be banned from the next two continental championships, nor for the financial penalties imposed on them.

“The steering committee has expressed great surprise at the decisions by CAF,” it said in a statement yesterday.

The FRMF went on to say it would “take all necessary steps and measures to uphold the rights and interests of Moroccan football”.

Morocco withdrew from hosting the 2015 finals over fears of the spread of the Ebola virus.

Aside from the tournament ban, the FRMF was fined $1 million and ordered to pay $9.1 million in damages to CAF and its partners.

CAF’s executive committee found the Moroccan federation to be financially liable.

Morocco had asked for the tournament to be postponed by a year to allow the Ebola outbreak in west Africa to be contained.