With just 45 days to go before the kickoff of the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), scheduled from August 2 to 30, the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) Appeals Jury has officially upheld Congo’s appeal, filed by the Congolese Football Federation (Fecofoot), overturning a previous disciplinary ruling that had led to their disqualification in favor of Equatorial Guinea.
As a result, Congo will now take Equatorial Guinea’s place in Group D of the tournament’s first round, where they will face the defending champions Senegal, as well as Sudan and Nigeria.
This decision marks a dramatic reversal of fortune. Congo had initially been found guilty of breaching CHAN regulations and the CAF Disciplinary Code, following a successful complaint lodged by Equatorial Guinea. The Equatoguineans had been eliminated on the field during the playoffs (0-0, 2-1), but their administrative challenge proved decisive.
The Congolese side was accused of fielding a potentially ineligible player, Japhet Mankou, and of submitting invalid player licenses. These infractions resulted in Congo being handed two forfeit losses and a fine of $10,000 (approximately €9,500).
With the Appeals Jury’s decision now confirmed, Congo’s path to the tournament is cleared, restoring their spot in Africa’s premier competition for locally-based players.
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