A Sudden Exit From the Regional Stage
The Red Devils will not be in Kinshasa. The Congolese Football Federation (FECOFOOT) confirmed on 16 February that Congo-Brazzaville is withdrawing from the UNIFFAC under-17 tournament, the regional gateway to the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations for that age group.
For young players and their families across Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, the news closes a door before it ever properly opened. There will be no two-match campaign, no group stage, no shot at the continental finals this cycle.
Why FECOFOOT Stepped Back
The federation pointed to several reasons rather than a single cause. Chief among them is the absence of a national championship, a situation tied to the closure of stadiums across the country. Without competitive matches, preparing a squad becomes difficult.
FECOFOOT also cited what it called numerous administrative irregularities with the Ministry of Sports. The federation referred to tight deadlines and to missing valid documents for some of the players, gaps that made fielding a compliant team unworkable in time.
The federation further stated that it had not been brought in as the technical body during preparations for the tournament. That detail matters, because it places the football authority outside the planning loop for a competition it would normally help shape.
Ripples Across the Tournament
The withdrawal did not stay contained to one team. Organisers were forced to abandon the planned group format, and a fresh draw was held at FECOFOOT headquarters to rework the fixtures and the wider structure of the competition.
The UNIFFAC zone qualifiers run in Kinshasa from 17 February to 2 March 2026. Each side plays two matches, and the group winners advance to the final phase of the U17 Africa Cup of Nations.
What It Leaves Behind
For now, the practical outcome is plain. Congo-Brazzaville is out of the running for the U17 CAN 2026, and the reasons named by the federation point less to the pitch than to paperwork, deadlines, and shuttered grounds.