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08.04.2015 Cup of Nations

Gabon ahead of Ghana in the race to land hosting rights for AFCON 2017

08.04.2015 LISTEN
By ghanasoccernet.com

Gabon are favourites to land the rights to host the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations ahead of Ghana when the winner is announced later today thanks to their intensive lobbying of CAF's top hierarchy over the past three months, insiders have told GHANAsoccernet.com.

The CAF Executive Committee will decide later today which country it hands the rights to host Africa's flagship football competition which will be staged in two years' time.

Algeria, Gabon and Ghana are in the three countries in hunt to be chosen on Wednesday to take over as hosts of the 2017 African Nations Cup finals from war-torn Libya when the Confederation of African Football's executive committee votes.

Despite Ghana's strong case to land the hosting rights, Gabon are the strongest favourites to be handed the massive opportunity because they have spent the past few months travelling and meeting executives to tell them of their plans.

All three countries, which have previously hosted the tournament, have sent ministerial delegations to deliver last-minute presentations to the committee before the vote.

“We are up against some tough contenders but we think we have a good chance,” Gabon Football Federation president Pierre-Alain Mounguengui told reporters.

Gabon, the favourites to win the vote, co-hosted the 2012 finals with neighbours Equatorial Guinea.

Ghana hosted the finals in 1963, 1978 and 2008 and co-hosted in 2000 with Nigeria as late replacements when Zimbabwe was stripped of the right to hold the event.

Algeria hosted the tournament in 1990 when they won their only continental title.

Libya, where a civil war has brought all football to a halt, withdrew last year from staging the finals.

CAF will also conduct the draw for the qualifying competition on Wednesday.

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