FIFA has officially suspended the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFOOT) with immediate effect due to what it describes as “a particularly serious situation of undue interference by third parties” in the federation’s affairs.
This, according to FIFA, is a clear violation of FECOFOOT’s obligations under the FIFA Statutes.
The decision, taken in consultation with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), follows two FIFA/CAF missions to Brazzaville, which assessed the crisis within the Congolese football governing body.
Congo’s World Cup Campaign at Risk
Congo’s national team, the Red Devils, are part of Group E in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers alongside Morocco, Tanzania, Zambia, Niger Republic, and Eritrea. Their next scheduled match is an away fixture against Tanzania, but it may not take place unless FIFA lifts the suspension before then.
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The Red Devils’ qualification campaign had already suffered a blow after their humiliating 6-0 defeat at home to Morocco last June, and this latest development puts their World Cup hopes in serious doubt.
What the Suspension Means for Congolese Football
With immediate effect, FECOFOOT loses all its membership rights as defined in Article 13 of FIFA’s statutes. This means:
- The Congolese national team and club sides are banned from participating in international competitions.
- FECOFOOT representatives are barred from FIFA-related events and decision-making processes.
- Congolese clubs are ineligible to compete in CAF inter-club competitions, though none had reached this season’s quarter-finals.
Conditions for Lifting the Suspension
FIFA has outlined specific conditions that must be met before the suspension can be lifted:
- Full control of FECOFOOT headquarters, the Ignié Technical Centre, and all other facilities must be returned to the federation.
- Any attempts to alter the signatories of FECOFOOT’s bank accounts must cease, and control must be restored to the signatories recognized by FIFA and CAF.
- Any legal or administrative decisions granting an ad hoc committee control over FECOFOOT must be declared invalid or set aside.
- The Congolese authorities must ensure FECOFOOT can manage its affairs independently, without undue influence from third parties.
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Congo had already failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, and with this suspension in place, their future in international football remains uncertain. Unless FIFA’s conditions are met, the nation’s footballing activities will remain on hold indefinitely.
Source: The Athletic NG
