By Abdel-Nasser Sayed
CAIRO
Libya has withdrawn from hosting the Africa Cup of Nations in 2017 due to the unstable security situation in the country, the governing body of African football said Saturday.
A Libyan delegation held a meeting with Issa Hayatou, head of Confederation of African Football, better known as CAF, and revealed that the North African country would not be able to host the continental tournament, the confederation said in a statement.
The CAF has dispatched a circular to all 54 member associations, informing them of opening bids for the hosting of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, it noted.
"Considering the limited time left for the organization of the 2017 edition, the CAF Executive Committee will select a host country whose dossier guarantees that accommodation, transportation and hotels facilities, as well as training sites and stadiums already exist," it said.
Libya has been plagued by heavy fighting between the loosely organized army and militias that clung to their weapons following a bloody uprising that ended the autocracy of long-serving ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
www.aa.com.tr/en
