Unsurprisingly, Congo has just been handed a significant double sanction after withdrawing from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Niger at the start of the month…
For not showing up in Kinshasa to to challenge Niger (3rd day of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers), the
Congo was officially declared forfeited by FIFA. The Red Devils will therefore not be able to have the opportunity to play this meeting in the event of a possible postponement. As a reminder, the Ministry of Sports had prohibited the team from traveling to the neighbor of the RC
Congowhere the match had to be relocated, as a sign of disagreement with Niger, accused of having betrayed its word.
« In accordance with art 58 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (…) The Congo – Niger match initially scheduled for June 6, 2024 as part of the preliminary competition for the 2026 World Cup, is declared lost by forfeit 3-0 by the ‘Congo national team’, informed FIFA, before announcing a second sanction: ” The Congolese Football Federation was fined CHF 10,000 (approximately 10,400 euros). »
Congo can appeal
If it wishes to contest this decision, the Congolese Federation has the possibility of appealing. The Red Devils, who on the other hand honoured their match against Morocco a few days later in Agadir (6-0 defeat), can however consider themselves “lucky” to the extent that they escape the threat of pure and simple disqualification which hung over them.
Isaac Ngata’s gang will therefore be able to continue the rest of the playoffs. But with 0 points on the clock in Group E, the dreams of the 2026 World Cup already seem to be gone. THE Morocco
leads with 9 points while Niger occupies second place with 6 points.
