Guinea has officially been cleared to host international matches after the West African country was declared free of Ebola ©Getty Images

Guinea has officially been cleared to host international football matches after the West African country was declared free of Ebola.

Hicham El Amrani, general secretary of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), confirmed in a letter addressed to Guinea Football Federation President Salifou Camara that the ban imposed in August 2014 has been lifted.

Guinea, who have often played in Morocco during the CAF ban, will now be able to play Malawi in capital Conakry in March as part of the qualification process for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

"CAF has learned with joy and relief the announcement by the World Health Organization on 29 December 2015, officially confirming that Guinea is now declared Ebola free," El Amrani said.

"CAF thereby confirms lifting the ban on the organisation of continental matches in Guinea, and for all competitions organised by CAF."

The Ebola outbreak, which started in late December 2013, killed more than 2,500 people in Guinea, and a further 9,000 in neighbouring Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Both Liberia and Sierra Leone were also banned from hosting international and continental matches during their outbreaks.

Guinea often played in Morocco during the CAF ban
Guinea often played in Morocco during the CAF ban ©Getty Images

Liberia were cleared to host matches in May after being banned in July 2014, while Sierra Leone’s ban was lifted last month after being imposed in August 2014.

Sierra Leone were eliminated from the 2018 World Cup qualifiers in October, but they will be able to resume their bid to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Freetown with a Group I qualifier against Gabon in March.

Having been banned from playing on home soil, Sierra Leone initially conceded home advantage in both national team and club competition matches to their opponents after not being able to find a neutral country willing to help them host.

Nigeria eventually allowed them to use the coastal village of Port Harcourt for their "home matches".

Sierra Leone were due to host an exhibition match against Ghanaian champions Ashanti Gold SC this month to celebrate the lifting of the ban.

AshGold, as the club is more popularly known, cancelled their trip to Freetown, however, after organisers failed to pay for their air tickets and accommodation.