Ghana regains four slots for CAF Club Championships

Ghana has regained its four slots for the continental club championships effective next year.

The decision comes after the Ghana Football Association (GFA) recaptured its place amongst the 12-best nations according to the rankings of the continental soccer governing body, Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Information gathered by GNA Sports indicates the impressive debut outing by Berekum Chelsea in their maiden appearance in the CAF Champions League last year served the catalyst for the re-entry into the top ranked teams. Ghana has presented just a team each for both the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confedeeration Cup since 2009 after a string of poor performances and no-shows by some clubs.

Chelsea narrowly missed out on a place at the semis in their debut appearance at the highest level of African club football despite being housed in a tough group alongside formers winners’ Al-Ahly and Zamalek (both of Egypt) and TP Mazembe (DR Congo).

According to CAF, the ranking was for the five-year period (2008-2012), which saw Ghana eclipse Zimbabwe into the top 12.

Tunisia remains the top ranked nation with Egypt, Nigeria, Sudan, Morocco, DR Congo, Algeria, Mali, Congo, Angola and Cameroon in that order.

This means that Ghana like the other countries will have the right to present two teams in the CAF Champions League and a further two in the CAF Confederation Cup.

This gives Chelsea the chance to join Asante Kotoko into the much prestigious CAF Champions League, with Dwarfs gaining the other ticket for the CAF Confederation, which Medeama automatically qualified as winners of the FA Cup.

Whilst Kotoko and Medeama have confirmed their respective participation, Chelsea and Dwarfs have yet to come clear in that regard.

This will be the first time since 2006 that Ghana will be parading two teams in both competitions.

Source: GNA