CHAN 2024: Congo disqualified, Equatorial Guinea reinstated
With the CHAN 2024 only months away, the Confederation of African Football has disqualified Congo
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A bombshell has landed in African football. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Tuesday 21 January that Congo Brazzaville's Red Devils have been disqualified from the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN 2024). The decision follows a complaint lodged by Equatorial Guinea and significantly changes the picture with the tournament only months away.
A complaint that upends the competition
It all began with the second legs of the final qualifying round for CHAN 2024, played on 21 and 29 December 2024 between Congo Brazzaville and Equatorial Guinea. After the two-legged tie, won by Congo, Equatorial Guinea took the matter to CAF, accusing the Congolese football federation of fielding an ineligible player, Mankou Nguembele Japhet Eloi, and of failing to present valid national licences for its players, in breach of the CHAN regulations.
Read also: CHAN 2024: DR Congo draw Morocco, Senegal with Nigeria
After reviewing the case, CAF's disciplinary board upheld these allegations, ruling that Congo Brazzaville had breached several articles of the CHAN regulations and the Disciplinary Code.
CAF's findings are unequivocal:
- Both matches between the two teams are annulled and awarded to Equatorial Guinea as 3-0 forfeit wins, with Congo Brazzaville deemed to have lost.
- A fine of 10 000 dollars has been imposed on the Congolese football federation, which has 60 days to pay it.
Equatorial Guinea back in the running
As a result of the decision, Equatorial Guinea, who had been knocked out on the pitch, are back in the competition and have secured their place at CHAN 2024, which will be staged in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in August. For Nzalang Nacional, it is an unexpected chance to shine on the continental stage after seeing their hopes initially dashed.
For Congo, the disqualification is a heavy blow. It not only damages the federation's image but also exposes administrative failings and poor management. Those errors have cost the Red Devils a place in a tournament where they had hoped to make a good showing.
However, Congo still have a glimmer of hope. They can appeal against the decision to the CAF Appeals Board, even though time is tight and football, so often a stage for twists on the pitch, has shown once again that it can also spring surprises away from the playing field.