FIFA has announced the immediate suspension of the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFOOT) due to escalating tensions between the Ministry of Sports and the football body, which culminated in police intervention and the closure of the country’s sports facilities. The suspension bars Congolese clubs and national teams from participating in international competitions and cuts off crucial funding and development programs from both FIFA and the African Football Confederation (CAF).
The decision has particularly impacted young players, including those set to compete in the UNIFAC tournament in Cameroon, a qualifier for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. “The most painful part is that we have young players, U17 cadets, who were supposed to participate,” said FECOFOOT’s Communication Officer Rufin Loemba. “Football is the most popular sport in Congo, and you can imagine how this affects nearly 5,000 or even 10,000 people who rely on it for their livelihoods.” Loemba emphasized that restoring the previous executive committee would immediately reinstate the federation’s legitimacy.
FIFA’s decision follows allegations that FECOFOOT violated its regulations, particularly concerning political interference. The federation reportedly dissolved its elected executive committee and formed an ad hoc commission, which FIFA deemed illegitimate. Sylvain Samba, an executive board member of the Diable Noir Club, criticized the process, stating that club presidents did not sign the petition to dissolve the executive committee. “Instead, there were forgers and impostors who likely faked signatures,” Samba said. He argued that if former FECOFOOT President Jean-Guy Mayolas mismanaged the federation, he should be held accountable by FIFA or CAF, as he was duly elected.
FIFA has outlined conditions for lifting the suspension, including reinstating the executive committee, reversing unauthorized changes to the federation’s bank account signatories, and ensuring FECOFOOT’s autonomy without external interference. As tensions persist, the future of Congolese football remains uncertain, with calls from both local and international stakeholders for a swift resolution to restore legitimacy to the federation.