Soccer News of Friday, 15 August 2014

Source: ghanasoccernet.com

No CAF message on reduction of Ghanaian clubs - GFA

The Ghana FA says it is unaware that only two clubs will represent the country in next year’s CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup competitions.

Reports in the Ghanaian media claim that CAF has ordered Ghana to present only two teams to represent the country in next year’s CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup competitions.

According to the report, Ghana were scheduled to have four representatives in both the Champions League and Confederations Cup competitions, but the continents football governing body have ordered the country to present only two teams for both events following the poor performance of Ghanaian Clubs in Africa in recent times.

However, the Ghana FA says it has not received such a letter from CAF claiming the number of Ghanaian clubs in continental competition has been reduced to two.

“We have not received a letter from CAF saying the number of Ghanaian clubs in continental competition has been reduced,” Ghana FA spokesman Ibrahim Sannie told Oman FM.

“If there is anything like this they will write to us. We have received calls from many media houses asking this. So far we have not received anything like this. We will follow up to ask CAF.”

Ghana for the past two seasons have failed to have her clubs go past the round of 16 in either competitions which has led to CAF’s decision to reduce the number of slots given to the country.

Last season’s reps Asante Kotoko, Berekum Chelsea, Medeama SC and Ebusua Dwarfs all failed to get into the group stages of the CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup respectively.

2013/14 Ghana premier league Champions Asante Kotoko and 2nd placed Hearts of Lions were said to represent the country in the Champions League, whiles Accra Hearts of Oak and last season’s MTN FA Cup winners Inter Allies were scheduled to take part in the CAF Confederations Cup competition.

The latest development however means, the country will be represented by the two top clubs in the 2013/14 First Capital plus Premier league.

Champions Asante Kotoko will play in the CAF Champions League, whiles 2nd placed Hearts of Lions play in the CAF Confederations Cup next season.

Ghana from 2006-2010 had its number of slots reduced by CAF until Premier League side Berekum Chelsea were able to regain back the slots for Ghana when they reach the group stages of the CAF Champions League in 2012.