Congo has been disqualified from the African Nations Championship (CHAN) after fielding an ineligible player in their match against Equatorial Guinea. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Disciplinary Board made the announcement on Thursday, confirming that the match has been forfeited. As a result, Equatorial Guinea will now take Congo’s place in Group D of the tournament.
Congo Football Federation has also been fined $10,000, which must be paid within 69 days. The issue arose from Congo fielding Mankou Nguembete Japhet Eloi, a player who had transferred from his local club in Congo to Leones Vegetarianosin in Equatorial Guinea just before the match. Congo failed to present valid national licenses for Eloi, which is a mandatory requirement for players participating in CAF competitions.
This decision has had significant ramifications for Congo’s campaign in the competition, and the incident further highlights the importance of proper player registration and documentation in international tournaments.
