The west African nation will stage the event
after Libya lost hosting rights due to
concerns over security
Gabon has been confirmed as the host
country for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
Confederation of African Football (Caf)
president Issa Hayatou announced the news
at a ceremony on Wednesday.
Libya had been initially selected to stage the
competition, but its hosting rights were
withdrawn in August last year due to the
unstable security situation in the country.
Algeria, Ghana, Gabon and Egypt had bids
accepted by Caf, although Egypt withdrew its
application in February.
But Caf has put its faith in Gabon, marking
the second time in five years that the nation
will stage the event.
Gabon served as co-hosts in 2012 alongside
Equatorial Guinea, where the
2015 competition was also held after
Morocco refused to stage the tournament
due to concerns over the spread of the Ebola
virus.
Jorge Costa's Gabon were eliminated in the
group stages of this year's Afcon. They
reached the quarter-finals in 1996 and 2012,
but have never gone beyond the last eight.
The hosts will take part in the 2017
qualifying stage by playing friendly fixtures
against reigning champions Cote d'Ivoire,
Sudan and Sierra Leone as part of the Group
I calendar. Ghana, who were beaten finalists
in 2015, face Mozambique, Rwanda and
Mauritius in Group H.
The 13 group winners and best two runners-
up will qualify to join Gabon in the finals
tournament.
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