Bosco Mwehu Kofela withdraws from FECOFA race as election field narrows

Bosco Mwehu Kofela has withdrawn from the race for the presidency of the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFA), further narrowing the field ahead of elections scheduled for 20 May.

The decision was confirmed on Wednesday, 6 May, in a letter sent to the electoral commission, with Kofela citing personal reasons for stepping aside.

His withdrawal comes as a surprise, particularly as his application had been considered one of the most complete among those under review.

Kofela becomes the second candidate to exit the race in recent days, following the earlier withdrawal of Shabani Nonda.

The development significantly reshapes the electoral landscape at a time when the process is still ongoing and subject to appeals from candidates whose applications were provisionally rejected.

With Kofela’s departure, two confirmed candidacies remain in contention: those of Véron Mosengo Omba and Jean-Didier Massamba.

Both are now expected to carry forward their campaigns as the election date approaches, with attention shifting to how the reduced field may influence the final outcome.

Despite the withdrawals, the election timetable remains unchanged, with voting still set to take place on 20 May.

The process is being closely monitored, given its importance for the future governance of Congolese football.

The current electoral process is being overseen within a broader framework established by FIFA.

On 24 April 2023, world football’s governing body installed a normalisation committee to manage FECOFA’s affairs. Initially appointed for a seven-month period, the committee’s mandate has since been extended several times.

Its role has been to ensure the smooth running of the federation’s operations while also guiding the organisation through the electoral process.

A key objective remains the installation of a new executive committee capable of leading the federation on a permanent basis.

As the election draws nearer, the focus is now on the remaining candidates and the completion of a process intended to bring stability to the administration of football in the Democratic Republic of Congo.