Central African Republic: Sports minister calls for national football team to be suspended
The Central African Republic's Sports Minister has asked for the national football team to be suspended for the next three years.
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Having been keen since the start of the year to install Rigobert Song as head coach of the Central African Republic's Wild Beasts, an appointment rejected by the federation's Executive Committee, Héritier Doneng has made it a personal crusade.
In an official note dated 1 April, the Sports Minister went as far as claiming to have “the honour” of asking the Council of Ministers to suspend the national team:
“We can all see that, despite the funds allocated by the government, the results achieved by the senior men's national football team are taking us further and further away from qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Given this situation, and with limited financial resources, I have the honour to request that the senior national football team be suspended from CAF and FIFA competitions for a period of three (03) years.
This would allow our country to save money for the development of national football, school sport and sports infrastructure, and to better support the U17 and U20 teams, who are currently performing well. This period of suspension would allow these youth categories to gain more experience for international competitions.”
A minister under pressure over contracts awarded for the stadium renovation
While the request will be duly considered by the Council of Ministers, it is fairly unlikely that the government will follow Doneng's advice, not least because of the risk that FIFA could suspend the Central African Republic from all football activity for third-party interference.
Read also: FIFA could suspend the Central African Republic for interference
Already under very close watch following the saga over the head coach, the Central African file will be scrutinised even more closely by world football's governing body. The fact remains that this situation helps no one, least of all a country that still has no stadium meeting international standards despite promises trumpeted in recent months.
This affair could also resurface soon and pile the pressure on Héritier Doneng, whose office oversaw the renovation work by awarding contracts that raised eyebrows, and without the expected result.