Kinshasa, July 20th, 2025 (CPA). – The training camp for the Leopards A’ of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), scheduled to take place in Algeria, was cancelled on Saturday following the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), according to a statement from the Congolese Football Association (Fecofa) seen by the CPA on Sunday. ‘The Congolese Football Association (Fecofa) has a duty to inform the sporting public in general, and football fans in particular, that in view of the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the training camp scheduled in Algeria has been cancelled,’ the statement read. This official statement, dated Saturday, July 19th, and signed by Innocent Kibundulu Kazadi, secretary general of the sports body, follows the ruling of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which on July 16th, 2025 ordered the immediate resumption of the Congolese national championship, which had been suspended for several months.
According to the source, the CAS ruled in favour of a group of clubs playing in League 1 and League 2, which had brought the case before the international court to challenge the prolonged suspension of competitions, arguing that it violated the principle of sporting fairness and compromised their contractual and financial commitments. In its decision, the court based in Lausanne, Switzerland, ruled that Fecofa must prioritize the resumption of internal activities, guaranteeing a schedule that complies with the standards of competitiveness and preparation of local clubs and players. Consequently, any activity or training camp organized outside the country must be rescheduled so as not to interfere with the restart of national competitions. In line with this approach, Fecofa stated that the cancellation of the training camp in Algeria is in compliance with the decisions made by the competent international sports authorities, which are keen to preserve order and discipline in the management of Congolese football. On this occasion, the DRC’s football governing body apologized to its partners for the inconvenience caused, with a special mention to the Algerian Football Federation (FAF), while expressing its commitment to maintaining cooperative relations with sister federations on the continent. Finally, Fecofa reaffirmed its willingness to reorganize, as soon as possible, a new preparation program for the national team, with a view to ensuring competitive participation in the upcoming continental competitions. ACP/