The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reportedly disqualified Congo from the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), scheduled for August in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
While CAF has yet to issue an official statement, multiple reports indicate that Congo’s removal stems from the use of an ineligible player during their qualifying matches against Equatorial Guinea.
The player in question, Mankou Nguembete Japhet Eloi, is alleged to have played for Leones Vegetarianos, a club in Equatorial Guinea. This contravenes CHAN’s strict eligibility rules, which mandate that participants must exclusively represent domestic clubs from their home country.
Additionally, it is reported that Congo failed to present valid national licenses for their players, a fundamental requirement for participation in the tournament.
Equatorial Guinea Reinstated
Following Congo’s disqualification, Equatorial Guinea, who were initially eliminated by Congo, has been reinstated in the tournament. They will now compete in Group D alongside defending champions Senegal, as well as Sudan and Nigeria.
CAF Imposes Fine
As part of the sanctions, the Congolese Football Association has been fined $10,000, with a 60-day deadline to settle the penalty.
The development has sparked significant discussion in African football circles, with the focus now shifting to how CAF will address similar eligibility concerns in the future.
SOURCE: http://dew360.net | Samuel Ekow Amoasi Appiah
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