Central African Republic: Former internationals demand the resignation of the football federation

Around a hundred former players and supporters gathered in Bangui on October 1, 2026, to demand the resignation of the president of the Central African Football Federation, Célestin Yanindji, and the departure of the Fauves' head coach, Éloge Enza Yamissi. According to RFI, the mobilization was born out of anger sparked by the national team's false start in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Two defeats that ignited the powder keg

The Central African Republic lost its first two matches: 0-1 against Burkina Faso, then 1-3 against Mauritania. This record already distances the Fauves from a qualification the country has never achieved: the Central African Republic has never yet taken part in an AFCON final tournament.

But for the protesters, the results are only a symptom. According to RFI, the former internationals point to the state of national football: Central African stadiums have not been approved for six years, which forces the national teams to play far from their fans, and no club in the country has represented the Central African Republic in a continental competition for two years.

A blocked demonstration, police disperse the crowd

The procession did not reach the federation's headquarters: counter-protesters blocked the path of the protesters before the police dispersed both groups, reports RFI. Among the figures present, former international Bruce Kamo questioned the management of Central African football, while Léopold Nagot, secretary-general of the retired players' union, linked the absence of clubs on the African stage to the poor results of the national team. The union has announced further actions in the coming days.

The right of African publics to responsible governance

The Central African case is not isolated on the continent: non-approved infrastructure forces several African national teams to host matches abroad, a human and financial cost borne by players, supporters, and taxpayers. Defending African football also means recognizing the right of citizens to demand accountability from their federations.

The next steps will play out on two fronts: the qualifiers, where the Fauves must relaunch a campaign that is already off to a bad start, and the governance front, where the federation will have to publicly respond to accusations made by those who have worn the national jersey.