(From Kofi Addae, GNA Special Correspondent, Khartoum, Sudan)

Khartoum, Sudan, Feb. 24, GNA - The Federation of International Football Federation (FIFA) is studying a proposal from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on the inclusion of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in the calculations of the world football rankings.

The move is in line with making the tournament, which is designed exclusively for local-based footballers to be more attractive and competitive just as the flagship CAF event, Africa Cup of Nations. CAF President Issa Hayatou who said this at the 33rd Ordinary General Assembly of the Confederation held in Khartoum, said FIFA is giving the proposal the needed consideration and is hoping for a positive response. "On February 12, a proposal was forwarded to the FIFA Executive Committee to include results of CHAN matches in the FIFA rankings. If the proposal is accepted, the CHAN will extend beyond the borders of Africa." This will mean that the appearances of players at the tournament will be counted as caps, serving a major boost to the future of competition whic= h was incepted in 2009.

Hayatou, who is also a FIFA Vice President has defended the idea of th= e creation of the CHAN, describing it as one of the best things to have happened to the game of football as far as the continent is concerned. "When we started it, we received all manner of criticisms. Some said the calendar was congested and others said there will be no interest." Following the modest successes of the maiden edition in 2009 in Cote d'Ivoire, the CAF President said the decision to increase the number of teams from eight to 16 was met with the same negative remarks. "We have all seen the standard and our goals have been achieved. The tournament is to pay tribute to the thousands of young footballers who keep and sustain the interest in the local championships on the continent. "Most of them always dream of playing in the national teams and the CHAN gives them the opportunity."

Hayatou added that the CHAN has also strengthened African leagues as well as the technical capacities of indigenous coaches.

"At the current CHAN, only one of the 16 teams has a foreign coach. This is good for African football and we must all support it." Host country Sudan meet Algeria for the third place on Thursday whilst Tunisia face Angola in the final of the 2011 edition on Friday, February 25 in Omdurman.

Ghana losing finalists in the maiden edition held in 2009 were bundled out at the group phase after losses to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Niger.