By Rahim Abdul
The Democratic Republic of Congo Football Association (FECOFA) has officially announced the clubs that will represent the country in the 2025 CAF interclub competitions, leaving out two of the nation’s football giants TP Mazembe and AS Vita Club.
This decision was reached during an emergency meeting held on September 8 in Kinshasa, which involved the FECOFA Normalization Committee (CONOR), LINAFOOT officials and representatives from top clubs.
According to the resolution, FC Les Aigles du Congo and FC St Éloi Lupopo will participate in the CAF Champions League, while AS Maniema Union and AS Simba will feature in the CAF Confederation Cup.
The meeting saw 21 members vote in favor of the decision while four rejected it, reflecting ongoing tensions within Congolese football.
FECOFA wasted no time in submitting the final list to CAF despite loud protests from several clubs including TP Mazembe and AS Vita.
The controversy stems from FECOFA’s decision to prematurely end the domestic league with six matches left to play in order to focus on preparations for the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN).
This move has angered TP Mazembe, who accused the association of irregularities and favoritism, insisting that the season should either resume or be nullified.
As a direct consequence, TP Mazembe and AS Vita Club two of DR Congo’s most decorated teams will not participate in continental football this season, a major blow for their players and supporters.
This also comes as a setback for Malawian internationals Patrick Mwaungulu and Lanjesi Nkhoma, who play for TP Mazembe and AS Vita respectively.
The duo had been hoping to showcase their talent on the continental stage, but with their clubs excluded, they will have to wait until next season for another chance.
The absence of Mazembe and Vita also raises questions about the level of competition in DR Congo’s domestic league and its credibility on the African stage.
TP Mazembe, a five-time CAF Champions League winner, has been a dominant force in African football for decades while AS Vita has a rich history of its own.
Meanwhile, CAF is expected to officially ratify the list in the coming weeks as teams begin their preparations for the 2025/26 continental campaigns.
