Okwawu pull out of Cup Winners Cup

Tony Yeboah's old side cannot afford to play in continental competition this year Ghanaian side Okwawu United have withdrawn from the Cup Winners Cup due to financial reasons.

Club president Kwame Ofosu-Bamfo said it would cost the side almost ?27,000 just to travel for the first round first leg against Evico of Gabon at the end of March.

Such an amount is small change to many European sides, but means a fortune for most African clubs.

Okwawu lost the FA Cup final last season to Hearts of Oak, but entered the Cup Winners' event as runners-up.

Hearts of Oak will be playing in the Champions League after winning the double last year.

A suspension or ban from the Confederation of African Football (Caf) could prevent Okwawu from playing in African competitions the next time they qualify.

Strict with clubs

But Ofosu-Bamfo said the club had earlier told the Ghana FA not to enter the side for the competition.

Caf are strict with clubs pulling out of its competitions after they have entered.

Okwawu climbed into the Ghanaian Premier Division in 1985, and quickly made an impact in their debut season, winning the FA Cup with the help of Anthony Yeboah, who now plays for Hamburg.

In 1998, the cash-strapped club pulled out from the regional West African Wafu Cup.

Although Okwawu had a slim chance of lifting the Cup Winners Cup this year, the competition has been given a boost by Caf, who have decided to enter the holders for the Fifa World Club Championship.

Defending champions Zamalek of Egypt will be the first to play in the World Club event in Spain in July.