Ghana has the best chance to host AWC 2006

(William Ezah, GNA Special Correspondent, Banjul, Gambia)

Banjul, Gambia, May 21 - The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) has said that Ghana stands the best chance to win the right of hosting the next edition of Africa Women's Soccer Championship scheduled for 2006.

This is because other countries which have expressed interest in hosting the event seem to be having internal problems within their local federations.

Ghana is among the few countries to have expressed interest in hosting the event next year.

Information gathered by GNA Sports from the Secretariat of CAF in The Gambia reveals that Nigeria and Egypt have also expressed interest in hosting the event but are yet to put in their bids. These countries are however currently having structural problems in their Federations which has attracted the attention of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) and do not look possible to get the nod.

According to the information from the Secretariat, the Confederation is also looking for a new country to host the event since both countries have already had their turn of hosting it several times. Ghana therefore looks the possible candidate to host the event in which it has been a regular figure since its inception and has been one of the torch bearers in the continent in women football at the world stage.

CAF is therefore expected to announce the host nation for the championship by the close of July at its next meeting in Cairo, Egypt.

Meanwhile the Confederation has confirmed Togo and DR Congo as the hosts of the next Africa Under-17 and Under 21 Championships in 2007. The two countries according to CAF are expected to begin earnest preparations for the events in the shortest possible time.

Benin was the last country to host the Under-21 event whilst Gambia is currently taking charge of the Under-17 event. CAF said that it would announce the host Nation's for the 2009 editions of both juvenile competitions at a meeting in September.