The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially closed the bidding process for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), revealing seven candidate countries vying to host the continent’s premier football tournament:
🌍 Bidding Nations for CAN 2017
Algeria
Egypt
Gabon
Ghana
Kenya
Sudan
Zimbabwe
🏟️ Hosting Experience Breakdown:
Five of the candidates already have experience hosting AFCON:
Ghana: 1963, 1978, 2000 (co-hosted with Nigeria), 2008
Egypt: 1974, 1986, 2006
Algeria: 1990
Gabon: 2012 (co-hosted with Equatorial Guinea)
Sudan: 1957 (inaugural edition) and 1970
🇩🇿 Algeria: The Front-runner?
Algeria is viewed as the strong favorite, especially after unsuccessful bids for 2019 and 2021. With strong infrastructure, experience, and football enthusiasm, they tick many of CAF’s key criteria.
❗ Libya’s Withdrawal
Libya was originally slated to host the 2017 edition, but withdrew due to ongoing conflict and instability, prompting CAF to re-open bidding.
🗳️ What’s Next?
CAF will make its final decision in 2015, during an Executive Committee session. The focus will be on selecting a country that already possesses:
Modern stadiums
Adequate training facilities
Good transport infrastructure
Quality accommodation
The chosen host will play a key role in shaping the competitive and commercial success of CAN 2017.
