Ghana to miss out of 2019 Women's World Cup, AWCON axing affects Black Queens

One of Africa's strongest sides Ghana are set to miss out of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France next year after the West African country was stripped of the hosting right for the qualifying tournament.

Ghana were stripped of the rights of hosting of the 2018 African Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) after a decision by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) was revealed on Sunday.

The tournament also doubles as the African qualifiers to the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.

The top three teams will qualify for the World Cup in France. However, if Equatorial Guinea finish in the top three, the fourth placed team will qualify.

The Black Queens did not play in the qualifiers for the competition because they were originally billed as host of the tournament to be held in three months time.

They qualified automatically as hosts, while the remaining seven spots were determined by the qualifying rounds played in April and June 2018.

But with the decision to strip Ghana of the rights for hosting the tournament, the next competition host will take over the slot of the hosts leaving the Black Queens with no place in the African competition and no chance of qualifying for the World Cup.

The tournament was scheduled to be held in Ghana, from 17 November to 1 December 2018.

The decision will come as a big blow to the players of the female national team who are regarded as among the best in Africa having recently won the West Africa Championship in Ivory Coast.

CAF Presdient Ahmad Ahmad has revealed that they are talking to some countries to take over as hosts of the two-week competition.

A new host will be announced next month during the CAF Extraordinary General Assembly in Egypt.

Africa's governing body CAF took the decision after the country's disastrous preparation for the competition left the the Egypt-based body with no option.

Ghana was de facto awarded the hosting rights on 27 September 2016 and officially in mid December.

It was the first time Ghana was handed the right to host the women's event.

There were no other associations bidding to host the event other than Ghana.

Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Algeria, South Africa, Zambia, Mali and Nigeria have already qualified for the tournament, and will be joined by the hosts.