The Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals scheduled to be played in Ebebiyin and Mongomo have been moved to the largest city Bata and capital Malabo respectively, the Confederation of African Football announced on Tuesday.

The decision means that hosts Equatorial Guinea will meet Tunisia in Bata on Saturday evening, rather than in the tiny 5,000-seat Ebebiyin stadium.

In addition, Sunday’s scheduled quarter-final between the winners of Group C and the runners-up in Group D will be played in Malabo rather than in Mongomo.

A CAF statement said organisers based their decision on the fact that the two recently installed pitches in the outposts of Ebebiyin and Mongomo have “been adversely affected by combination of wear and tear from the six games played or to be played in each of them and the unstable weather conditions seen lately.”

CAF, who said that the teams involved had been consulted, added that they had taken the step “to ensure the quality of play remains at the highest possible level.”

Monday’s Group B game between Cape Verde and Zambia, which finished 0-0, was played out under a tropical deluge which left the surface in Ebebiyin partially waterlogged.

The change means the late games on Saturday and Sunday will now kick off half an hour later than initially scheduled, at 1930 GMT.

As a result there will now be two matches in Bata on Saturday, where DR Congo will also face Congo Brazzaville, with the remaining two last-eight ties in Malabo on Sunday.