Congo has been officially reinstated in the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) following a successful appeal to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), just weeks before the tournament kicks off on August 2.
The CAF Appeals Jury upheld Congo’s protest against a previous ruling by the Disciplinary Jury that had disqualified the national team, known as the Red Devils A’, from the competition.
The Congolese Football Federation (Fecofoot) challenged the initial verdict, which had come after a complaint filed by Equatorial Guinea.
Equatorial Guinea, who were defeated by Congo in the CHAN play-offs (0-0 in the first leg, 2-1 in the second), lodged a formal protest alleging Congo had fielded an ineligible player, Japhet Mankou, and used invalid player licenses.
CAF’s Disciplinary Jury had ruled in their favour, awarding both matches to Equatorial Guinea by default and imposing a $10,000 fine on Congo.
However, the Appeals Jury has now overturned that decision, reinstating the original match results and confirming Congo’s qualification for the tournament.
Consequently, Equatorial Guinea has been disqualified.
The reversal has raised questions over the consistency and transparency of CAF’s disciplinary mechanisms.
The decision not only nullifies the previous punishment but also calls into scrutiny the integrity of the adjudication process within the organisation.
Congo will now take their place in Group D of the CHAN, where they are set to compete against defending champions Senegal, along with Sudan and Nigeria, in what promises to be a highly competitive group stage.
Le Congo 🇨🇬 participera au CHAN 2025 après avoir été disqualifié, puis réintégré sur appel. Des joueurs jugés inéligibles en première instance ont été déclarés éligibles en appel. Un nouveau cas qui interroge le fonctionnement disciplinaire de la CAF. #CHAN2025 #CAF pic.twitter.com/xy5bCjni1y
— Lassana Camara (@mauritaniefoot) June 17, 2025
The reinstatement comes just in time for final preparations, but the saga has added a layer of controversy to the tournament’s build-up.
Critics argue that such administrative turnarounds so close to the tournament undermine CAF’s regulatory authority, while supporters of the decision view it as a correction of procedural missteps.
Despite the dispute, Congo now has the opportunity to shift the narrative on the pitch.
With their qualification confirmed, attention will turn to how the team responds under the spotlight in a group filled with heavyweight contenders.
