Highly anticipated at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, the Leopards of the Democratic Republic of Congo have so far failed to meet expectations. After a surprising defeat to Uganda in their opening match, Florent Ibenge’s men suffered another loss on Wednesday against Egypt, despite showing flashes of quality on the pitch.
Who is to blame for these disappointing performances? According to Constant Omari, president of the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFA), the responsibility does not lie solely with the players.
Speaking earlier this week, Omari pointed to internal issues within the federation, citing multiple factors that, in his view, contributed to the team’s poor showing. “Internal conflict, irresponsibility, lack of professionalism, and the pursuit of personal interests by influential FECOFA officials created serious frustrations within an otherwise motivated national team last night,” he said. “They sabotaged everything,” Omari added, making it clear that the problems extend far beyond the pitch.
With two consecutive defeats leaving the Leopards on the brink of elimination, the fallout from these AFCON missteps is likely to have lasting repercussions for both the players and the federation.
