If media reports coming out of Morocco are to be believed, then the 2015 African Cup of Nations is on the brink of being postponed, and quite possibly, it's for the best.
The deadly Ebola virus that is taking its vicious toll on Africa at present is a problem that can't be avoided or skirted around. The fact of the matter is that holding an AFCON in Africa while the deadly disease continues to cause death would be a huge risk. One that probably shouldn't be taken.
I'm all for postponing Morocco 2015. They have their own country's best interests at heart and, to be honest, that's what really matters at the end of the day.
I've personally always thought that the fact that the AFCON takes place every two years made no sense. Now, with the postponement of the 2015 edition looking likely, maybe CAF should use it as a way of spreading out the tournament?
I'd love to see the AFCON become a competition that takes place every four years, rather than every two. Spreading it out has so many benefits, but I'm not sure whether CAF would see it the same way.
Firstly, how sad is it that the winner of the AFCON only gets to keep hold of the trophy for like two years? It doesn't even have time to gather dust in the winner's trophy cabinet.
Zambia only got to keep theirs for a year due to the rescheduling ahead of Brazil 2014, and they also lost out on a spot in the Confederations Cup and the chance to take on the best footballing nations in the world.
Secondly, in terms of marketing, making the AFCON every four years will give CAF the opportunity to make a big deal of the tournament, to make sure that it's as well supported as possible when it does roll around.
For the hosts, they have longer to get things in place. They will be able to properly market the event to the football fans in their country and make sure that the stadiums are close to full capacity in more of the games.
And speaking of the fans, if you make the tournament every four years then guys wanting to travel to AFCONs overseas have a bit more time to save up and fund their trips to join their respective teams on their quest for African glory.
Also, how often do we hear of players playing in Europe pulling out of the AFCON because of its timing and regularity? These guys have careers to worry about, and missing a crucial part of every other season to play for their countries does nothing to help their battle for starting places.
I know what some will say. They'll say that clubs should support their African players when playing for their national teams. However, let me put it this way, how much money would you spend on a player that you know will leave you for a month mid-season every other year? The January/December period in European football can prove to be key in a team's success, so losing a Yaya Toure or a Thulani Serero can become a problem.
Lastly, and possibly most importantly, making the tournament every four years would make for a much more competitive spectacle. If the teams taking part know that they have only one chance every four years to be crowned as the Kings of Africa, and to qualify for the Confederations Cup, maybe it'll mean a bit more to them.
Also, not planning for an AFCON every two years would allow CAF the opportunity to throw a bit more effort into their marketing and planning of the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup, two tournaments that certainly need more attention.
As I said, player and fan safety should be paramount regarding AFCON 2015, and while a postponement would be sad for those teams that have done so well in qualifying up to now, maybe long-term it's a way of improving Africa's showpiece tournament.
