Congo Minister Denies FIFA Backing As FECOFOOT Crisis Deepens

Congo Minister Denies FIFA Backing As FECOFOOT Crisis Deepens

By Niyi Busari 

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Hugues Ngouélondélé, has dismissed reports claiming that FIFA authorized the continued operations of the remaining Executive Committee (COMEX) of FECOFOOT, describing the information as false and misleading, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Speaking on Friday, April 10, the minister rejected the claims, which had circulated widely in the media. The report was initially published by the ADIAC news agency on April 3 before being relayed by TV5 Monde and Les Dépêches de Brazzaville in its April 8 edition.

Authored by sports editor James Golden Eloué, the article suggested that FIFA had granted tacit approval for FECOFOOT’s interim leadership to remain in place. Ngouélondélé, however, firmly denied any such authorization, insisting that no official communication from FIFA supports the claim.

Addressing stakeholders in Congolese football, the minister condemned what he described as the spread of misinformation and warned of its potential to exacerbate tensions within the sport’s governing structures. He announced the launch of an investigation to determine the origin of the report and assign responsibility.

The controversy unfolds against the backdrop of a deepening governance crisis within FECOFOOT. In a parallel development, Congolese authorities have initiated an international manhunt for the federation’s president, Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas, following his conviction for financial misconduct.

According to judicial sources, Mayolas—alongside his wife and son—has reportedly gone into hiding after being found guilty of embezzling approximately $1.1 million in funds provided by FIFA under its COVID-19 relief programme in 2021. Authorities allege that a portion of the misappropriated funds, estimated at $500,000, had been earmarked for the development of the national women’s team.

The government has formally requested assistance from Interpol to issue international arrest warrants for the trio, signaling the seriousness of the case and its potential international ramifications.

The dual developments—conflicting reports over FIFA’s position and the legal pursuit of FECOFOOT’s leadership—underscore mounting challenges facing football governance in the Republic of the Congo. Observers warn that the situation could attract scrutiny from FIFA, which maintains strict regulations on governance, transparency, and state interference in national football associations.