Africa: Libya withdraws from hosting 2017 AFCON 2017, applications accepted through 30/09/2014

Libya will not host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2017, the CAF (Confederation of African Football) announced on 23/08/2014. Libya's "unstable security situation" was cited as its reason for withdrawal, according to CAF.

The 54 federations affiliated with CAF have until 30/09/2014 to submit applications to host AFCON 2017. "Considering the limited time left for the organisation of the 2017 edition, the CAF executive committee will select a host country whose dossier guarantees that accommodation, transportation, hotel facilities, training sites and stadiums already exist," said the confederation.

The designation of the host country for AFCON 2017 will take place in a CAF executive committee meeting in 2015, said CAF.

Libya was initially set to organise AFCON 2013. On 27/09/2011, CAF decided to swap the hostings of AFCON 2013 and 2017 due to the "political situation in Libya" wherein head of state Muammar Gaddafi was being challenged by the Libyan people. South Africa, which had had AFCON 2017, thus took AFCON 2013. Gaddafi died on 20/10/2011.

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