Ghana fail 2017 AFCON bid

Accra, April 9 : Ghana failed to win the bid to host the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as leaders of the Confederation of African (CAF) settled on Gabon.

Ghana was confident of hosting Africa's biggest football tournament for the second time in nine years but was unable to make the mark after Gabon swept a majority of the CAF executive committee votes to annex the right on Wednesday, reports Xinhua.

Ghana hosted the 2008 tournament and were placed third after beating neighbours Ivory Coast.

Libya was billed to host the competition but later withdrew due to the unstable security situation in the North African country.

Gabon co-hosted the 2012 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations with neighbours Equatorial Guinea.

The 2015 AFCON was held in Equatorial Guinea and won by Ivory Coast, who defeated Ghana 9-8 on penalties.