The crisis continues to intensify in Gabon. Eliminated in the group stage of the 2025 African Cup of Nations with zero points in three matches, the Gabonese selection was surprised to see itself suspended by the government until further notice, in addition to the sidelining of Bruno Ecuele Manga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as well as the dissolution of its staff. A decision which amounts to an act of interference and which could cost FEGAFOOT very dearly.
The laws enacted by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) are indeed intended to be very strict in this area. Paragraph i of Article 14 notably obliges its member associations to “manage their affairs with complete independence and ensure that no third party interferes with them”. A point of regulation confirmed by article 15 which requires “guaranteeing independence and avoiding any form of political interference”.
Sanctions which would imply, if they were to be applied for Gabon, no longer being able to play matches and competitions organized by Fifa until further notice. The Panthers are not qualified for the 2026 World Cup,
Many federations already sanctioned
Here, government interference is made explicit and could therefore push Fifa to take measures. Articles 16 and 17, which concern the sanctions to be applied, ensure that the Council of the body can, without a vote from Congress, “temporarily suspend with immediate effect any member association which seriously contravenes its obligations”. The conviction could even go as far as exclusion in the event of “serious violation of the Statutes, regulations or decisions of Fifa”, but only after a vote by Congress this time.
Probably alarmed after learning of this possibility, the Gabonese government ended up deleting its press release announcing the suspension of the selection. This did not prevent the Sports Manager from confirming, orally this time, the decisions during a television announcement on January 1st.
But this story is far from being an isolated case. Until recently, the Congolese Football Federation was suspended by Fifa between February and May 2025, for “a particularly serious problem of interference”. It aimed at the creation of a committee having taken control of Fécofoot, formed by the Minister of Sports Hugues Ngouélondélé, to direct the federation. Banned from competition, the selection had seen its qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup against Tanzania and Zambia cancelled, pushing it further towards elimination.
Kenya has also experienced the same situation several times, forcing Fifa to suspend its federation in 2004, 2006 and 2022, just like Kuwait (2007, 2008, 2015), Brunei (2009-2011), Sierra Leone (2008), Madagascar (2008), Iraq (2009), Indonesia (2015) or again Guatemala (2016).
Cameroonian jurisprudence
In Cameroon, the government’s involvement in the life of the federation regularly borders on interference, to say the least. The Ministry of Sports is, for example, the main decision-maker in the choice of the coach of the Indomitable Lions. Fécafoot and its president Samuel Eto’o rose in particular after the induction of Marc Brys at the head of his team in April 2024.
“The Cameroonian Football Federation learned, at the same time as all Cameroonians, of the appointment to positions of responsibility within the National Senior Men’s Football Selection. Fecafoot expresses its great astonishment at this act (…),” she wrote in a press release. A few days before CAN 2025, the Belgian coach was dismissed by the federation, but not by the government with whom he says he is still under contract.
“As long as there is not a signed note from the Presidency of the Republic appointing David Pagou, the coach of the Indomitable Lions, in the eyes of the State of Cameroon, remains Mr. Marc Brys. This cannot be discussed, and it has been this way in Cameroon for at least 30 years,” Marc Brys then explained on TV5 Monde.
However, Fifa has never officially interfered in the debates despite an open conflict between the Cameroonian Football Federation and the government. It remains to be seen whether the body led by Gianni Infantino will choose to open its eyes to the situation in Gabon.
