Two weeks after failing to win the rights to host the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, Algeria is yet to overcome the shock.
The North African country was highly favoured to replace original host Libya who forfeited their rights due to political instability in the country.
Gabon beat off competition from Algeria and Ghana to win the bid for the second time in five years after the 2012 edition co-hosted with Equatorial Guinea.
The vote to select the eventual host, which took place at Caf headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on April 8, was widely criticised by officials from both losing nations.
They said the normal procedure of revealing details of the result, including the score of each candidate, was not followed this time. Caf president Issa Hayatou simply announced the winner without further details, according a member of the executive committee, who took part in the exercise.
Algeria Football Federation president Mohamed Raouraoua, who had vowed to give an official reaction, said on Thursday that two countries from West Africa, Mali and Benin, voted against Algeria despite promising their support.
“Our reaction took this long because we were doing thorough investigations. I can confirm to you that Mali and Benin voted against us and that is why Gabon won it at our expense,” Raouraoua said.
“Before the vote, we had their word and strong support but they disappointed us so badly. Consequently, we have reached some decisions against the two countries. We will no longer play friendly matches with them. No more aid, no more training workshops for players and coaches like we have always done to help improve their football,” he said.
Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyantakyi told reporters days after the vote that members of the Caf executive committee agreed that details of the result should not be published to avoid frustrations.
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