FIFA allows Congo to play in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers after the team was banned for two games in March due to government meddling.
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FIFA ALLOWS CONGO IN WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS AFTER FECOFOOT SUSPENDED IN FEBRUARY
FIFA allows Congo to resume playing at the World Cup qualifiers after its football association, FECOFOOT, was suspended in February.
Furthermore, third-party intervention led to government meddling, which prompted FIFA to suspend FECOFOOT from February to May.
Moreover, altercations between rival sports clubs led to the murder of police officer George Lyngeridis by flare in Athens in 2023.
The ban forced the Les Leopards to miss their World Cup qualifying matches against Tanzania and Niger in March.
The two teams were handed identical 3-0 victories, a FIFA representative told Reuters, while points from those matches were forfeited.
OFFICIALS TOOK BACK POSTS, FECOFOOT REGAINS ACCESS TO FIFA HEADQUARTERS, TRAINING FACILITY
Congo sports officials took back their posts, leading FECOFOOT to regain access to FIFA’s headquarters and its technical training facility.
Moreover, Sports Minister Hugues Ngouelondele cited the need to immediately resolve conflicts among FECOFOOT office bearers.
Furthermore, the official created an ad hoc committee to oversee the affairs of the association last year that led to the FIFA reinstatement.
FIFA’s laws don’t allow governments to meddle with it’s members’ football affairs.
The sport’s top governing body has led to bas on Chad, Kenya, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe the past few years.
LES LEOPARDS TO RESUME WORLD CUP QUALIFIER STINT IN SEPTEMBER DESPITE GETTING OUSTED
The Les Leopards will be permitted to resume their stint in the World Cup qualifiers in September.
Furthermore, Congo is scheduled to play Tanzania at home in September and away matches against Niger and Morocco in October.
Moreover, the Les Leopards are allowed to play despite being already eliminated in the qualifiers with zero points.
Morocco leads Group E with 15 points, followed by Tanzania with nine points.
Congo last won the African championship in 1972 but has never played in the World Cup.
