DR Congo U17 coach accused of demanding kickbacks for squad selection

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s U17 national team has been thrown into turmoil after serious allegations emerged accusing members of the technical team of demanding kickbacks from players in exchange for selection to the squad for the ongoing U17 Africa Cup of Nations.

The controversy comes at a difficult moment for the Young Leopards, who suffered a heavy defeat to Uganda in their opening game despite arriving at the tournament with high expectations following an impressive qualifying campaign in the UNIFFAC zone.

Several players who were instrumental during qualification were surprisingly omitted from the final squad, including captain Aristote Bokeya.

Reports indicate that the exclusions may have been financially motivated rather than based on sporting decisions.

According to testimonies gathered by Sport News Africa, players were allegedly required to surrender part of their tournament bonuses to head coach Denis Makenga in order to secure places in the squad.

“I didn’t pay USD 500 to get my place on the team, so I was left out,” one young player reportedly revealed.

Sources claim that from a planned USD 1,000 bonus allocation, half was allegedly expected to be handed over to the coach. Multiple testimonies reportedly describe the existence of a “business” operating within the national youth setup.

“These methods are unfortunately still widespread on the continent,” the report stated, highlighting growing concerns about corruption and exploitation in African youth football.

The allegations have intensified frustration among supporters who had hoped this generation could become a major force for Congolese football in the future.

Instead, the team now faces mounting pressure both on and off the pitch ahead of their next AFCON encounter against Ivory Coast.

The issue is also expected to place additional scrutiny on football governance in DR Congo, especially with elections at the Congolese Football Federation approaching.

For many observers, the scandal threatens not only the credibility of the U17 programme but also the development of a highly promising group of young players.