Libya, under the leadership of Awad al-Baraassi, the Deputy Prime Minister and President of the High Organizing Committee of CAN-2017, has expressed its determination to bid for and host the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN). The country sees this as an opportunity to mark the 60th anniversary of the competition.
It’s worth noting that Libya was initially slated to organize CAN-2013 but due to socio-political unrest following the death of Muammar Gaddafi, the hosting rights were transferred to South Africa. In response, Libya seems keen to make a strong bid for the 2017 edition and has taken steps to gain organizational experience by sending a delegation to South Africa in January.
With the determination expressed by Libya to host CAN-2017, it suggests that the country is actively working towards overcoming past challenges and positioning itself as a contender for the hosting rights. The competition for hosting rights in African football tournaments is often competitive, and successful bids require robust planning and preparation. The decision on the host country for CAN-2017 will be a result of a bidding process conducted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
