Ghana faces stiff competition from Algeria in winning the right to host the 2017 AFCON bid, but minister of Youth and Sports, Mahama Ayariga, has downplayed such competition saying Ghana looks favorite to win the bid than Algeria.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF), will by as early as next year, name the host country for the 2017 AFCON after Ghana and Algeria submitted their separate bids.

Pundits have argued that Ghana lacks the requisite infrastructure to win the bid, as the four stadia used to host the CAN 2008 are in deplorable state, needing urgent attention before the nation can host the rest of Africa.

But the minister, who is spearheading Ghana’s bid, said, Ghana’s chance of winning the bid is higher than Algeria.

“We know Algeria has also sent their bid for the 2017 AFCON; we are not worried about that, we know that we stand a better chance of winning the bid. These infrastructure that we built for the 2008 AFCON are still working, we will need just some few things to do to make it look like a brand new edifice.”

“The ministry will try as much as possible to do that, and the committee that we have formed, looks decent to be able to help the country win the bid, Algeria is not our concern now, we want to win the bid and I’m assuring Ghanaians that we will win come next year.”