Congo: FIFA suspension to be lifted soon?

Could the simmering crisis in Congolese football finally be nearing a resolution? This Friday, 21 March, in the presence of a bailiff, the keys to the federation's offices and to the technical centre in Ignié were handed back to FECOFOOT general secretary Badji Mombo Wantété.

A sine qua non condition for the suspension to be lifted, the move came with the dissolution of the ad hoc committee that had taken the place of FECOFOOT's executive committee, against the backdrop of a row between the federation president, the sports minister and the football authorities (CAF and FIFA), who never recognised the statutory legitimacy of that ad hoc committee.

Read also: Fecofoot suspension: Congolese government tries to put out the fire

Financial irregularities?

According to information gathered by Sport News Africa from several people at CAF and FIFA, the suspension should be lifted quickly. That is a relief for Congo, who intend to prepare their U20 side properly after qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations, which takes place in Ivory Coast from 26 April.

One uncertainty remains, however: will the officially elected president (unopposed), Jean Guy Blaise Mayolas, who personally urged FIFA to suspend the country (in order to halt the ministry's actions against him and the executive committee), actually return to his post? Financial irregularities have apparently been detected during his tenure, which would implicate several members of FECOFOOT's current executive committee.

While Mayolas can count on the backing of Gelson Fernandes, FIFA's regional director for Africa, who is in charge of the case, his future, and that of other members, could be jeopardised by the financial side of the affair and the actual use of state and FIFA funds in recent years.

Romain MOLINA