Crisis Forces Congo Brazzaville U17 Withdrawal from AFCON Qualifiers

The Congo Brazzaville Football Federation (FECOFOOT) has officially announced the withdrawal of its U17 national team from the qualifiers for the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

During a press conference on Monday, the Executive Committee of the Congolese Federation confirmed that the U17 team's withdrawal stemmed from a series of structural and organizational difficulties that impacted the team's preparations. These issues included the absence of an effective national youth league due to stadium closures across the country, as well as administrative complexities with the Ministry of Sports. Furthermore, a tight schedule and a lack of official documents for some players made participation in the qualifiers impossible.

The Federation further explained that the failure to integrate the technical body into the organizational planning for the tournament contributed to exacerbating the crisis. In its statement, the Federation expressed "deep regret for its team's non-participation," describing the decision as a result of unresolved coordination problems.

It is worth noting that the crisis in Congo Brazzaville had emerged previously, with the Federation stating a week prior that it did not recognize the existence of a national U17 team.