Key Takeaways
- Rule change: Fecofa altered its presidential eligibility criteria, allowing candidates who hold only a diplomatic passport to stand.
- Candidate: Véron Mosengo-Omba, a former Caf general secretary and university friend of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, has entered the race.
- Controversy: Critics argue the amendment was tailor-made for Mosengo-Omba, who lacks full Congolese citizenship but wields political backing.
- Election context: The poll, postponed to May, follows years of FIFA-led normalisation due to governance crises.
Infographic: The Race for Fecofa's Top Job
Election Date: Postponed to May 2025
Candidates: 9 confirmed, including Mosengo-Omba and ex-Premier League striker Shabani Nonda
Key Issue: Eligibility rule change allowing holders of diplomatic passports to run
Political Backing: Mosengo-Omba reportedly endorsed by President Félix Tshisekedi
FIFA Involvement: Normalisation committee in place since 2022
Rule Change Sparks Debate in Congolese Football
The Democratic Republic of Congo's football federation (Fecofa) has amended its presidential election statutes, a move that clears the path for Véron Mosengo-Omba—a close associate of FIFA President Gianni Infantino—to stand for the federation's highest office. The change, ratified by Fecofa's electoral commission, now permits any Congolese individual with prior football administration experience to contest, even if they hold only a diplomatic passport rather than full citizenship.
Mosengo-Omba, 66, who served as the Confederation of African Football's (Caf) general secretary until his resignation last month, confirmed his candidacy on Monday. He studied alongside Infantino at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland and previously held the role of FIFA's chief member associations officer. The election, originally scheduled for 11 April, has been delayed to May, with sources close to the process attributing the postponement to the eligibility issue.
Under Fecofa's previous rules, Mosengo-Omba—who surrendered his Congolese passport when he left the country at 18 and is a Swiss citizen—would have been barred from standing. However, the amendment, which awaits final ratification by the electoral commission, effectively removes that barrier. When asked by The Guardian whether the change was made to accommodate Mosengo-Omba, a Fecofa spokesperson declined to comment. Mosengo-Omba himself confirmed he uses a diplomatic passport but did not address whether it had previously hindered his candidacy.
Political Endorsement and Opposition
The candidacy has ignited fierce debate. Luc Mangala, a prominent football agent in the DRC, told The Guardian: 'Mosengo-Omba does not hold Congolese nationality, only a diplomatic passport; he has never completed the procedures to obtain full Congolese citizenship in all these years, and now … he wants to do so and take over the presidency of our football federation? This is unacceptable.' Mangala also alleged that Mosengo-Omba has been telling voters he is the candidate of President Félix Tshisekedi.
Caf President Patrice Motsepe appeared to confirm the political backing when he announced Mosengo-Omba's departure from Caf last month. 'He told me he has been asked by the DR Congo president to go and help with football development in that country,' Motsepe said. Mosengo-Omba, who initially said he was retiring to focus on 'personal projects', now acknowledges that government support would be a 'significant advantage' if elected, but dismissed claims that the rule change was engineered for him. 'My candidacy scares some because everyone knows precisely that my war horse is the fight against corruption and the misuse of funds intended for football,' he told The Guardian.
DRC Sports Minister Didier Budimbu, however, denied allegations that he instructed regional league presidents to support Mosengo-Omba, calling the claims 'completely unfounded'.
Governance Challenges Ahead
Fecofa has been under a FIFA normalisation committee for almost three years, tasked with addressing what FIFA described as 'irregular, unhealthy, and deadlocked' governance. The men's national team's qualification for the World Cup for the first time in over 50 years has raised hopes, but the federation remains mired in administrative turmoil. Mosengo-Omba, who was accused by some Caf employees of creating a toxic environment (though an investigation cleared him), has promised to transform Fecofa 'into a paradise' if elected. 'I served world football, then African football and now I plan to serve the country of my origin,' he said in a recent interview with France 24.
He will face at least eight other candidates, including former Blackburn Rovers and AS Monaco striker Shabani Nonda, in what promises to be a closely watched election.
Source: The Guardian