By James Robert Kayindi
The 2012 AFCON co-hosts Gabon have been chosen to host the Africa Cup of Nations finals (AFCON) of 2017. The news was revealed yesterday afternoon at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.
Gabon beat rival bidders Algeria and Ghana to host the biennial tournament according to the vote by the CAF’s executive committee at a meeting in Cairo.
Gabon now replaces Libya who withdrew last year from hosting the event following the insecurity that has continuously characterized the war torn North African country.
It should be remembered that Libya also withdrew from hosting the 2013 campaign before it was transferred to South Africa.
Libreville, Franceville, Port Gentil and Oyem are the four venues that will be used for the 16-team tournament come January 2017.
CAF has already chosen the hosts of biennial tournament for the 2019 (Cameroon), 2021 (Ivory Coast) and 2023 (Guinea) finals.
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