On the eve of an extraordinary general assembly of the Congolese Football Federation (Fecofoot) in the presence of representatives of FIFA and CAF scheduled for Saturday October 5 in Brazzaville, the gendarmerie intervened at the organization’s headquarters to prevent it from taking place. outfit. The operation marks an unprecedented escalation in the standoff between the Ministry of Sports and the members of the institution for several months.
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With our correspondent in Brazzaville, Loicia Martial
Fecofoot padlocked by court decision. A few hours after the gendarmerie raided the premises of the Congolese Football Federation (Fecofoot), in the afternoon of this Friday, October 4, to prevent the holding of an extraordinary general assembly in the presence of representatives of Fifa and of the African Football Confederation (CIF) scheduled for the next day, the headquarters of the institution was placed under seal.
On this occasion, young supporters of the national team gathered in front of the building to shout their exasperation at the setbacks of Congolese football. While the national team has no longer participated in an African Cup of Nations (CAN) since 2015, no clearing is on the horizon: the future of the Red Devils is off to a bad start both in the playoffs of the CAN 2025 which will take place in Morocco as well as in those of the 2026 World Cup which will take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“ There has to be change »
Faced with this accumulation of poor performances, the resignation of the president of Fecofoot, Jean Guy Mayolas, therefore appears to them to be the only solution. “ We want him to leave because the level of Congolese football has been declining for too long. This year for example, the Federation is only remitting 7 million CFA francs [un peu plus de 10 000 euros] to each of the 14 Ligue 1 clubs: this is not normal! In Cameroon, they receive 50 million. So what is the Federation doing to help them? », exclaims one of them.
“ Players demand bonuses. Those who are called up for selection no longer come because of that. The fault lies with the Federation which is not organized well. There has to be change ! », storms another.
A standoff that has lasted for several months already
If the event takes place within the framework of a standoff that has already been going on for several months between the Ministry of Sports and members of Fecofoot over the management of Congolese football, it nonetheless constitutes a brutal escalation.
Contacted, a Fécofoot official believes that the current situation results directly from recent statements by the president of the organization. After the debacle of Congo against Morocco 6-0 in a qualifying match for the next World Cup last June, the latter then affirmed that “ All Congolese football money » was managed by the Ministry of Sports.
Regardless, at this stage, the outcome of this confrontation remains uncertain. Faced with the commission set up with the support of the Ministry of Sports which calls for the immediate departure of the members of Fecofoot, the latter continue to maintain that their mandate is not over – it will end in 2026 – and also seem benefit from the support of FIFA and CAF.
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