Equatorial Guinea sneaks into CHAN after heavy sanctions on Congo

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has imposed substantial sanctions on the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFOOT) following a formal complaint lodged by the Equatorial Guinea Football Federation.

These sanctions come with significant repercussions for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), leading to a reshuffling of Group D.

CAF’s investigation revealed that Congo violated key regulations during the CHAN qualifiers.

FECOFOOT failed to present valid national licenses for their players, a mandatory requirement for participation in the tournament.

Moreover, the side fielded an ineligible player, Mankou Nguembete Japhet Eloi, in both legs of their qualifier matches against Equatorial Guinea. This breach resulted in the disqualification of both games.

Congo had initially secured qualification for CHAN after a two-legged tie with Equatorial Guinea.

The first leg, held on December 21, 2024, ended in a 0-0 draw, while Congo emerged victorious in the return leg on December 29 with a 2-1 win. However, these results have now been nullified, overturning Congo’s qualification.

With Congo’s disqualification, Equatorial Guinea has been awarded the spot in Group D, which originally featured African football giants Senegal, Nigeria, and Sudan.

The updated Group D lineup is set to compete in the CHAN tournament scheduled for August 2024, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. This change introduces a fresh dynamic to what promises to be a highly competitive group stage.

In addition to the forfeiture of their matches, FECOFOOT has been fined USD 10,000 by CAF with the amount to be settled within 60 days, further underscoring the consequences of their regulatory breaches.

As the August footballing extravaganza approaches, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how Group D’s new composition impacts the competition.