The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier game between South Africa and Congo is hanging on a balance.
Bafana Bafana are scheduled to host the Leopards at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Friday, October 11 in Group K encounter, with the second meeting set for Alphonse Massamba-Debat Stadium in Brazzaville four days later.
However, the Fecofoot officials have been locked out of their offices by the government after failing to meet the set government.
Fecofoot officials locked out of office
On Friday, the Congolese Football Association confirmed the saddening situation that befell the officials in their offices.
“In order to prevent the holding of the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Fecafoot, scheduled for October 05, 2024, at the headquarters, an urgent eviction notification was issued yesterday and executed this afternoon by the police,” read a statement to the public.
“Surrounded, Fecofoot officers in the line of duty, were ordered to free workplaces [and] the doors were sealed right after.
“The executive committee of Fecofoot regrets these actions and decides to make a communication to clarify the opinion on this situation that does not honor Congolese football.”
Will the South Africa and Congo game be played?
By the time these events happened, the Congo squad to play Bafana Bafana had not been named, casting doubt on whether the game would be played or not.
Fifa might crack a whip against Congo for government interference if the situation is not dealt with as per their statutes.
Congo started their 2025 Afcon qualifiers with a 1-0 win over South Sudan at home before falling 2-0 against Uganda away. Bafana Bafana drew 2-2 with Uganda Cranes in their first game before beating South Sudan 3-2 away.
The top two teams will qualify for the finals to be played in Morocco.
