AshantiGold will not play in the CAF Confederation Cup – even if they win the MTN FA Cup, the GFA have announced.
AshantiGold defeated Berekum Chelsea 4-1 in the semifinals to book a place in the final.
Their qualification guarantees them to play in the CAF Confederation Cup subject to approval from the Ghana Football Association following their late request to play in Africa.
CAF opened up for license for teams to participate in next season’s campaign with Hearts of Oak, Medeama, and Asante Kotoko applying to represent Ghana in the interclub competition.
The three teams had their license approved to represent Ghana but following Kotoko and Medeama's elimination from the competition, it is unknown whether Ashantigold can play in Africa after reaching the final.
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Now, the country's governing football body in a statement have announced that AshantiGold's late request for an extraordinary application to enable them acquire the required licence to participate in the 2021/22 CAF Confederation Cup has been turned down.
This follows their failure to meet the deadline to submit the club licensing decisions and documents of the clubs for the CAF IC 21/22 was 15 July 2021.
 Full statement below
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has formally written to AshantiGold SC notifying them of their inability to compete in the 2021/22 CAF Inter Club competitions – 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 had further correspondence with CAF on the subject and below are the key points in their reply.
The deadline for GFA to submit the club licensing decisions and documents of the clubs for the CAF IC 21/22 was 15 July 2021.
CAF informed the Federations that the 15 July 2021 deadline date was non-negotiable and non-extendable by any means.
CAF informed the Federations that they should submit by 15 July 2021, all club licensing decisions and documents of all theclubs 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
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 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.
Once again, the Association wishes to remind 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.
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