By Amaechi Agbo

Ghanaian club side, Ashanti Gold saw their hope of playing in the second tier CAF Interclub competitions, the Confederation Cup dashed after the continent’s football governing body rejected their late application for submission of club licensing, www.bestchoicesports.com.ng can report

Ashanti Gold qualified to represent Ghana in the CAF Confederation Cup despite losing the 2021 MTN FA Cup to Heart’s of Oak on Sunday.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) formally wrote to AshantiGold Sporting Club explaining their inability to compete in the 2021/22 CAF Confederation Cup.

This follows a late request from AshgantiGold for an extraordinary application to enable them acquire the required licence to participate in the 2021/22 CAF Confederation Cup.

The GFA explained that the deadline for the Association to submit the club licensing decisions and documents of the clubs for the CAF IC 21/22 was 15 July 2021 and CAF informed the Federations that the 15 July 2021 deadline date was non-negotiable and non-extendable by any means.

GFA said CAF informed the Federations that they should submit by 15 July 2021, all club licensing decisions and documents of all the clubs standing a chance to qualify to CAF Interclub competitions based on sporting merit, regardless of the status of completion of the domestic league or national cup competition

According to the GFA, “Unfortunately, we regret to inform that at this point of time, by force of the CAF Circular no club licensing decision may be accepted, consequently Ashantigold SC will not be able to take part in the CAF IC (Interclub competitions) 21/22 season.

“Consequently, Accra Hearts of Oak SC, Medeama SC and Asante Kotoko SC being the three clubs in the CAF list of LICENSED CLUBS are the only eligible clubs which can play in Africa in the 2021/22 season.

Now, with Accra Hearts of Oak SC opting to play in the CAF Champions League as the winners of the Ghana Premier League, only Medeama SC or Asante Kotoko SC may play in the CAF Confederation Cup for Ghana and should both clubs decide not to play in Africa, no club from Ghana would represent us in the competition.”

The GFA reminded all clubs to be mindful of the import of deadlines and the strict compliance regimes in modern football and the consequences thereof, following the failure to adhere to them.

Sunday’s win hands Hearts the opportunity to represent Ghana in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup but having earlier also secured the Champions League ticket by virtue of winning the Premier League, the Phobians chose the latter competition.