The Ghana Football Association have expressed their optimism about the return of the MTN FA Cup.

The domestic competition which was halted since 2017 due to Anas Aremeyaw Anas investigative 'Number 12' piece and the deadly effect of Covid-19 protracted it's return.

"It is the largest competition in terms of number. The Division 2 clubs will kickoff at the preliminary round and the round of 64, the Division One clubs will join and the round of 32, the premier league clubs will join," the FA's Communications Director Henry Asante Twum told Joy Sports.

On April 29, the GFA announced that MTN Ghana has extended its long sponsorship relationship for the FA Cup for three more years commencing from the current 2020/21 season. The total sponsorship package is worth over GHS 4 million.

The package included an annual sponsorship amount of GHS 1 million, GHS 20,000 for the ‘Man of the Match’ prize and MTN products worth GHS 390,000.

Henry Asante believes the competition which starts on May 14 is ready to blossom.

"The preparation is that the FA Cup will compete with the other competitions. The Premier League is doing well. The Women's League in terms of patronage and performance is very good, very impressive. Division One, performance is top notch," Henry said.

"So the FA Cup, arguably the most exciting domestic competition will have to rival these other competitions. What we have put together is a strategy, a media plan, a marketing plan to make sure when it comes back, it will have that same attention compared to the other products of the FA."

Asante Kotoko eased past Hearts of Oak with a 3-1 win at the Tamale Stadium in the last final. It was a game remembered for the hattrick scored by then Porcupine, Saddick Addams, in the first half.

The winner of the MTN FA Cup shall represent Ghana in the CAF Confederation Cup.