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Gabon FA boss Pierre Alain Mounguengui is delighted his country won the bid to host the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations ahead of giants Ghana and Algeria.
The 2012 co-hosts won a vote by the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee in Cairo on Wednesday ahead of Algeria and Ghana.
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 and the Gabonese FA president is satisfied his country succeeded in their bid.
“I’m satisfied with the draw and the choice of our country as hosts by the CAF Executive Committee. It was not an easy decision,” he said.
“We had two other bidders, Ghana and Algeria. Ghana has a big experience not only in football but organisation of tournaments.
“Ghana has hosted the AFCON three times; 1978, 2000 (co-hosted with Nigeria) and 2008. Also, Algeria is great country and organized the AFCON before with huge success. To be chosen at the expense of the two countries, it’s a huge satisfaction for us.”
Gabon will use four venues for the 16-team tournament, which will be played in January and February.
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, Gabon Football Federation officials said.