Latest news with #FECOFOOT
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Congo to resume World Cup 2026 qualifiers after missing two matches with FIFA ban
Congo will be allowed to continue participating in the World Cup qualifiers despite missing two fixtures in March when it was banned, world football's governing body FIFA said on Wednesday. Congo (not DR Congo, which is separate country in Central Africa) was suspended from February to May because of government interference in the running of its football association (FECOFOOT) but the ban was lifted when officials returned to their positions and were handed back access to the headquarters and technical training centre. Sports minister Hugues Ngouelondele had appointed an ad-hoc committee last year to run the association, claiming it needed to sort out disputes among association office bearers, but FIFA suspended FECOFOOT due to third-party interference, which violates its statutes. Which are the matches Congo missed in FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers Congo? During the ban, Congo were not allowed to participate in any international competition, which meant it could not play 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Tanzania and Niger in March. What is the result of those matches? According to FIFA rules, the points from those fixtures were forfeited and a 3-0 victory awarded to Tanzania and Niger, respectively. What are Congo's upcoming matches in FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers? Congo is scheduled to play Tanzania at home in September and conclude its fixtures in October with matches at Niger and Morocco. Can Congo still qualify for FIFA World Cup 2026? Congo has no points in the group yet, which Morocco lead with 15 points, six more than Tanzania in second place. The group winner qualifies for next year's World Cup in North America while the runner-up has a possibility to participate in playoffs if they are among the four best second-placed teams in the nine African qualifying groups. Congo will continue in the qualifiers when they resume in September, even if they have no chance of qualifying. Congo was African champion in 1972 but have never been to a World Cup. Which other countries have received similar FIFA bans due to government interference? FIFA has taken a hard line on government interference in football matters with the likes of Chad, Kenya, Pakistan and Zimbabwe among those banned in recent years.
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Soccer-Congo to resume World Cup qualifiers after missing their matches
(Reuters) -Congo will be allowed to continue participating in the World Cup qualifiers despite missing two fixtures in March when they were banned, world football's governing body FIFA said on Wednesday. Congo were suspended from February to May because of government interference in the running of their football association (FECOFOOT) but the ban was lifted when officials returned to their positions and were handed back access to their headquarters and technical training centre. Sports minister Hugues Ngouelondele had appointed an ad-hoc committee last year to run the association, claiming it needed to sort out disputes among association office bearers, but FIFA suspended FECOFOOT due to third-party interference, which violates its statutes. During the ban, Congo were not allowed to participate in any international competition, which meant they did not honour 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Tanzania and Niger in March. A FIFA spokesman told Reuters the points from those fixtures were forfeited and a 3-0 victory awarded to their opponents. But they will continue in the qualifiers when they resume in September, even if they have no chance of qualifying. Congo are scheduled to play Tanzania at home in September and conclude their fixtures in October with matches at Niger and Morocco. Congo have no points in the group, which Morocco lead with 15 points, six more than Tanzania in second place. The group winner qualifies for next year's World Cup in North America while the runner-up has a possibility to participate in playoffs if they are among the four best second-placed teams in the nine African qualifying groups. FIFA has taken a hard line on government interference in football matters with the likes of Chad, Kenya, Pakistan and Zimbabwe among those banned in recent years. Congo were African champions in 1972 but have never been to a World Cup. (Reporting by Mark Gleeson in New York Editing by Christian Radnedge)
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Congo to resume World Cup qualifiers after missing their matches
Congo will be allowed to continue participating in the World Cup qualifiers despite missing two fixtures in March when they were banned, world football's governing body FIFA said on Wednesday. Congo were suspended from February to May because of government interference in the running of their football association (FECOFOOT) but the ban was lifted when officials returned to their positions and were handed back access to their headquarters and technical training centre. Sports minister Hugues Ngouelondele had appointed an ad-hoc committee last year to run the association, claiming it needed to sort out disputes among association office bearers, but FIFA suspended FECOFOOT due to third-party interference, which violates its statutes. During the ban, Congo were not allowed to participate in any international competition, which meant they did not honour 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Tanzania and Niger in March. A FIFA spokesman told Reuters the points from those fixtures were forfeited and a 3-0 victory awarded to their opponents. But they will continue in the qualifiers when they resume in September, even if they have no chance of qualifying. Congo are scheduled to play Tanzania at home in September and conclude their fixtures in October with matches at Niger and Morocco. Congo have no points in the group, which Morocco lead with 15 points, six more than Tanzania in second place. The group winner qualifies for next year's World Cup in North America while the runner-up has a possibility to participate in playoffs if they are among the four best second-placed teams in the nine African qualifying groups. FIFA has taken a hard line on government interference in football matters with the likes of Chad, Kenya, Pakistan and Zimbabwe among those banned in recent years. Congo were African champions in 1972 but have never been to a World Cup. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Congo to resume World Cup qualifiers after missing their matches
June 18 (Reuters) - Congo will be allowed to continue participating in the World Cup qualifiers despite missing two fixtures in March when they were banned, world football's governing body FIFA said on Wednesday. Congo were suspended from February to May because of government interference in the running of their football association (FECOFOOT) but the ban was lifted when officials returned to their positions and were handed back access to their headquarters and technical training centre. Sports minister Hugues Ngouelondele had appointed an ad-hoc committee last year to run the association, claiming it needed to sort out disputes among association office bearers, but FIFA suspended FECOFOOT due to third-party interference, which violates its statutes. During the ban, Congo were not allowed to participate in any international competition, which meant they did not honour 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Tanzania and Niger in March. A FIFA spokesman told Reuters the points from those fixtures were forfeited and a 3-0 victory awarded to their opponents. But they will continue in the qualifiers when they resume in September, even if they have no chance of qualifying. Congo are scheduled to play Tanzania at home in September and conclude their fixtures in October with matches at Niger and Morocco. Congo have no points in the group, which Morocco lead with 15 points, six more than Tanzania in second place. The group winner qualifies for next year's World Cup in North America while the runner-up has a possibility to participate in playoffs if they are among the four best second-placed teams in the nine African qualifying groups. FIFA has taken a hard line on government interference in football matters with the likes of Chad, Kenya, Pakistan and Zimbabwe among those banned in recent years. Congo were African champions in 1972 but have never been to a World Cup.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Soccer-Congo to resume World Cup qualifiers after missing their matches
June 18 - Congo will be allowed to continue participating in the World Cup qualifiers despite missing two fixtures in March when they were banned, world football's governing body FIFA said on Wednesday. Congo were suspended from February to May because of government interference in the running of their football association but the ban was lifted when officials returned to their positions and were handed back access to their headquarters and technical training centre. Sports minister Hugues Ngouelondele had appointed an ad-hoc committee last year to run the association, claiming it needed to sort out disputes among association office bearers, but FIFA suspended FECOFOOT due to third-party interference, which violates its statutes. During the ban, Congo were not allowed to participate in any international competition, which meant they did not honour 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Tanzania and Niger in March. A FIFA spokesman told Reuters the points from those fixtures were forfeited and a 3-0 victory awarded to their opponents. But they will continue in the qualifiers when they resume in September, even if they have no chance of qualifying. Congo are scheduled to play Tanzania at home in September and conclude their fixtures in October with matches at Niger and Morocco. Congo have no points in the group, which Morocco lead with 15 points, six more than Tanzania in second place. The group winner qualifies for next year's World Cup in North America while the runner-up has a possibility to participate in playoffs if they are among the four best second-placed teams in the nine African qualifying groups. FIFA has taken a hard line on government interference in football matters with the likes of Chad, Kenya, Pakistan and Zimbabwe among those banned in recent years. Congo were African champions in 1972 but have never been to a World Cup.
