Gabon Chosen to Host 31st African Cup of Nations
Gabon has been selected to host the 31st edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with the announcement made on Wednesday by Issa Hayatou, president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Gabon emerged victorious in a competitive bid, beating out Algeria and Ghana to secure the prestigious tournament.
This will be the second time Gabon hosts the AFCON, after previously co-hosting the tournament in 2012 alongside Equatorial Guinea. For the upcoming edition, Gabon will have four stadiums at its disposal, with two already prepared for the competition, including those in the capital, Libreville, and in Franceville. Additionally, two new stadiums will be constructed—one in Libreville and another in Port-Gentil—to further enhance the country’s infrastructure for the tournament.
The decision also marks the second consecutive African Cup of Nations to be held in Central Africa, following the 2015 edition, which was controversially awarded to Equatorial Guinea after Morocco withdrew from hosting. Furthermore, Cameroon is set to host the 2019 edition, continuing the region’s strong presence in African football.
The announcement will be a significant disappointment for Algeria, which was widely considered the favorite to host the tournament but fell short in the final bidding process. Despite this setback, Gabon’s successful bid promises an exciting and historic tournament in a country eager to showcase its footballing prowess on the continental stage.
