Caf Names Gabon Afcon 2017 Hosts

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has chosen Gabon as hosts of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) to take over from war-torn Libya.

Gabon was picked ahead of other candidate countries Ghana and Algeria to host the 31 edition of the Afcon finals.

Located in the West Coast of Central Africa, Gabon co-hosted the 2012 tournament with neighbours Equatorial Guinea.

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The 2017 finals was originally slated for Libya but civil war, which halted football in the North African region, caused them to withdraw last year from staging the tournament.

Issa Hayatou Unveils the Host Nations of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. Image: Caf.
Issa Hayatou Unveils the Host Nations of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. Image: Caf.

Algeria hosted and won in 1990, while Ghana were hosts in 1963, 1978 and 2008, as well as co-hosts in 200 with Nigeria as late replacement for Zimbabwe.