The tournament, which should be kicking off on October 19, was put on permanent hold because the main sponsor, TV Africa, pulled out.

"TV Africa said the budget money we're waiting for isn't available," Wafu secretary Aka Malan told BBC Sport Online.

This is the third time that Wafu has postponed the cup - a competition which has become synonymous with poor planning, chaotic organisation and unfulfilled promises.

Caf said the tournament was too close to the African Nations Cup finals in Mali, starting on January 19.

But Wafu successfully insisted that its tournament was for home-based players, so there was no conflict.

Venue change

The delay in getting Caf's approval pushed the soccer fiesta back to October from its original date of September.

Wafu then shifted the tournament's venue from the Senegalese capital of Dakar to Abidjan in Ivory Coast.

Malan said despite the hiccups, Wafu was still keen to organise a competition.

"We feel obliged to host the event or else it won't be good for Wafu and the teams that have qualified."

Wafu has failed to deliver in the past with its clubs competition embroiled in problems.

The final matches of the 2000 clubs competition were never completed because Togo decided they could not host the games.

In 1999, the event finished in a dispute when the winners were never paid their prize money.

As a result, the Ivorian team refused to defend their title in last year's event.