CAIRO, Egypt (AP) — Egypt will host the African Nations Cup in 2006, the African football federation announced Thursday. Three other countries - Algeria, Ivory Coast and Libya - also bid to host the event. The top five finishers in the competition earn a place in the World Cup finals in Germany in 2006.

Egypt received seven votes from the organizing committee, which met here Thursday to decide the winner. Libya received two votes and Algeria and Ivory Coast got one each.

"We thank the African federation for its trust. This only came as a result of real hard work for the past couple of years," Hesham Azmy of the Egyptian soccer federation told The Associated Press.

Egypt is also considering a bid to host the 2010 World Cup, which will be awarded to an African country for the first time. Soccer officials say hosting the African Cup will boost Egypt's chances since it will be a dress rehearsal for the World Cup.

Ivory Coast's chances of hosting the event were undermined by fighting between government and rebel forces that has killed hundreds and forced thousands from their homes.

Algeria has been battling an Islamic insurgency for years.

Libya has been under United Nations sanctions since 1992 and is only recently trying to get back into the international fold by changing its policies.