Kumasi Asante Kotoko have quickly put behind them the pain of 8 December as they reorganize themselves for another journey into Africa next season.

The latest release from the technical committee of CAF pits Kotoko Liberia’s Mighty Blue Angels with the first leg slated for 13 April. The Porcupines are desirous of winning the trophy next season especially if they can seek a sweet revenge against WAC who robbed them of continental glory on 8 December 2002, just as El-Haly did in 1982 but were pipped a year later.

However, as the Africa Cup Winners championship continue to be a huge financial drain on all clubs, Kotoko’s biggest ambition is to participate in the Champions League as CAF announces major changes to the structure of the three continental club competitions.

2003 would be the last year for the Africa Cup Winners Championship as the number of teams from the top African nations are allowed to enter the Champions League with two teams as from 2004. The CAF and Africa Winners Championship will be merged into a new tournament- the Confederation Cup.

CAF’s new structure allows the top 12 countries in Africa to have two representatives in the Africa Champions League Refreshingly Ghana falls into that category, based on her performance over the previous five years.

Ghana reached the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2000 as well as 2002 while Hearts won the Champions League in 1999 with Kotoko emerging runners-up in the just concluded Africa Winners Cup.

It is most probable then that both Hearts and Kotoko could represent Ghana in the lucrative champions league where the winner is assured of a cool $1.5m. This is Kotoko’s dream to be part of the financial windfall. But, before that WAC must get ready to fall in 2003.