The International Federation of Football Association (FIFA) announced on Thursday the suspension of the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFOOT) due to alleged third-party interference in its management.
The decision effectively bars Congo’s national team from participating in international competitions, including the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Congo was initially placed in Group F alongside Morocco, Zambia, Tanzania, and Niger, but with its suspension, the group is now reduced to four teams.
The controversy stems from the Congo Sports Minister, Hugues Ngouélondélé, appointing an ad hoc committee to oversee FECOFOOT’s activities. This move followed a September 2024 extraordinary general assembly, during which members voted to remove FECOFOOT President Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas.
FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had previously warned Congo that such an intervention was illegitimate.
FIFA described the situation as “particularly serious”, stating that it violates FIFA statutes and the autonomy of national football federations. The suspension will only be lifted once the elected FECOFOOT committee is reinstated.
Until then, Congo’s national team and affiliated clubs are barred from participating in all international football competitions.
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