Congo Withdraws From CAF U-17 Qualifiers Amid Squad and Administrative Chaos
Central African football has been plunged into turmoil as the Republic of Congo has officially withdrawn from the UNIFAC tournament, which serves as qualifiers for the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations. The Congolese Football Federation (FECOFOOT) confirmed the non-participation of the Red Devils U-17 team in a statement issued on February 16, just less than 24 hours before the competition was set to begin in Kinshasa.
Reasons Behind the Sudden Withdrawal
According to FECOFOOT, the decision was unavoidable due to a series of unresolved problems. Key issues include the absence of a national youth championship, stemming from stadium closures across the country, which hindered player development and team assembly. Additionally, the federation cited administrative breakdowns with the Ministry of Sports, severe time constraints, and a lack of valid documentation for some players, making participation impossible.
The executive committee expressed deep regret over the withdrawal, noting that the federation was sidelined from key preparations despite being the technical authority for football in Congo. This situation highlights significant governance failures within the country's football administration.
Unprecedented Claims and Media Revelations
The controversy deepened when FECOFOOT revealed it did not even recognize the existence of a national U-17 team until learning about it through media reports. On February 10, just one week before the tournament, the federation issued a strong statement declaring it does not "recognise" the squad supposedly entered for the qualifiers.
Reports indicate that the Congo U-17 squad was assembled under coach Fabrizio Sinaza, who had warned in December 2025 about the difficulty of building a team due to the lack of domestic competitions. FECOFOOT stated there was no follow-up communication after initial consultations, leaving the federation unaware that a team had been formed for an official continental competition. This lack of coordination forced Congo to withdraw to avoid potential embarrassment and regulatory sanctions.
Impact on AFCON and World Cup Qualification
The UNIFAC tournament, running from February 17 to March 2 in Kinshasa, is crucial for determining which Central African teams qualify for the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations. The main finals will be hosted by Morocco, where Africa's top young talents will compete for continental glory. Moreover, the stakes are higher as the top 10 teams from the AFCON will qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, making Congo's withdrawal a significant missed opportunity for its next generation of players.
In a related development, FIFA suspended the Congo-Brazzaville football federation in February for alleged undue influence, ruling them out from the 2026 World Cup. As a result, their qualification fixtures against Zambia and Tanzania were cancelled by CAF, with the opposition teams awarded 3-0 victories. This adds to the broader challenges facing Congolese football on the international stage.
The withdrawal has left organizers and rival teams, including hosts Democratic Republic of Congo and Central African Republic in Group A, shocked and scrambling to adjust. It underscores the need for improved administrative processes and better coordination between football federations and government bodies in African sports.
