Gabon to host 2017 Afcon

Gabon have been selected as the new hosts of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals.

The West African country saw of the challenges of Algeria and Ghana to host the contenent’s showpiece event after Lybia withdrew.

It will be the second time as hosts for the country, which is located on the west coast of Africa, having previously shared duties with Equatorial Guinea.

Original hosts Libya, where a civil war has halted football, withdrew last year from staging the tournament.

They will be in Libreville and Franceville, which were used in 2012, plus Port Gentil and Oyem where the stadiums will be ready in 14 months

Morocco had been banned from taking part in the next two editions of the tournament after they did not host the 2015 event but were reinstated after winning their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.