Soccer News of Friday, 7 September 2012

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Ghana to battle Benin for 2014 CHAN slot

Ghana has been drawn against Benin to fight for a place in the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

The draw for the competition which was designed by Caf for only players plying their trade on the continent was held on Thursday.

The local Black Stars operating from the Zone West B will battle their West African neighbours after skipping the preliminary qualifying round for one of three available slots for the finals to be staged in South Africa.

Ghana will travel away for the first leg encounter on the weekend of 21,22,23 June 2013 before playing host on the weekend of 5, 6, and 7 July.

The Black Stars will be looking to qualify in order to repair a bruised reputation in the championships suffered in the last edition hosted by Sudan.

Ghana was kicked out after just the group stage following an impressive run to the grand finale of the maiden edition staged in Cote D’Ivoire.

The qualifiers are played on a regional basis with the composition of the finalists as follows : two from North Zone, two from West A Zone, three from West B Zone, three from Central Zone, three from Central East and three from South Zone (including hosts South Africa).