African Cup of Nations qualifier to go ahead in Marrakech despite deadly quake

Gambia and Congo's African Cup of Nations qualifier in Marrakech will go ahead as scheduled on Sunday despite the powerful earthquake that struck the city on Friday night and which has so far killed more than 1,000 people and injured hundreds more.

However, Saturday's match between Morocco and Liberia in Agadir, 260km away from the quake's epicentre, has been postponed.

The Gambia and Congo squads spent the night sleeping beside their hotel pools after the 6.8-magnitude quake struck. 

Both coaches said their players were traumatised by the event but had been told they must go ahead with their match.

Sunday's clash, which decides who qualifies along with Group G winners Mali, is being played in Marrakech because Gambia does not have a suitable stadium to host international matches.

"We have been told our match on Sunday must go ahead. It's quite strange that the Morocco game is off but ours is not," Gambia coach Tom Saintfiet told Reuters.

"The hotel is damaged but we can hopefully get new rooms on the ground. But we think it is best this game is postponed because the mood among the players is understandably sombre and everyone is a little scared."

Congo coach Paul Put said his players were unharmed.

"We are OK but still in shock. Mentally, it's difficult to keep up the concentration. We had to sleep outside, near the swimming pool. It was very scary and even now a complicated situation for the players."

Morocco have already reached the finals along with South Africa from Group K and the match with Liberia is their last qualifier, with the outcome of academic interest.