Gabon to host 2017 African Nations Cup

They beat rival bids from Algeria and Ghana in
a vote by the Confederation of African
Football's (CAF) executive committee at a
meeting in Cairo on Wednesday (NZT
Thursday).
Gabon replaces war-torn Libya, who withdrew
last year as 2017 host because of the civil
conflict raging in the country.
It will be the second time that the country will
stage the finals after co-hosting the 2012
edition with neighbours Equatorial Guinea.
Gabon will use four venues for the 16-team
tournament, set for January 2017.
They will be Libreville and Franceville, which
were used in 2012, plus Port Gentil and Oyem
where the stadiums will be ready in 14
months, Gabon Football Federation officials
said.
All three candidate countries made
presentations to the CAF executive committee
on Wednesday before the ballot was taken.
CAF did not make details of the voting
immediately available.
CAF have already designated the hosts of the
2019 (Cameroon), 2021 (Ivory Coast) and 2023
finals (Guinea).