FECOFA President Véron Mosengo-Omba calls for sweeping reforms to revive Congolese football

The president of the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFA), Véron Mosengo-Omba, has called for far-reaching reforms to overhaul the country’s football system, criticizing the current state of the domestic league and insisting that discipline and stricter governance are essential for the game’s future.

Speaking about the challenges facing football in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mosengo-Omba questioned the credibility of a league structure that operates without relegation, describing it as one of several issues undermining the competitiveness and integrity of the domestic championship.

The FECOFA chief also expressed concern over the league’s irregular calendar, highlighting repeated delays to the start of seasons and the lack of a consistent schedule as major obstacles to the development of clubs and players.

According to Mosengo-Omba, too many key decisions affecting the competition are being made in administrative offices instead of being determined by performances on the field.

He stressed that football should be governed by sporting merit rather than off-field interventions, arguing that such practices have damaged confidence in the domestic game.

The federation president believes restoring the credibility of Congolese football will require a comprehensive restructuring process built on firm regulations, discipline and a significant shift in mentality across all stakeholders.

“We need to rebuild our football with clear rules and respect for those rules,” Mosengo-Omba said, emphasizing that sustainable progress cannot be achieved without accountability at every level of the game.

He also issued a strong warning to clubs, making it clear that the federation will no longer tolerate attempts to bypass established regulations through personal connections or influence.

Mosengo-Omba stated that relationships and personal networks will no longer serve as a means of avoiding disciplinary or administrative procedures, signaling a tougher approach from the federation’s leadership as it seeks to strengthen governance and transparency.

His comments underline FECOFA’s determination to introduce reforms aimed at creating a more competitive, professionally managed and credible football environment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with an emphasis on ensuring that sporting success is earned on the pitch rather than decided behind closed doors.