After more than eight years of absence from African and world judo competitions and associated disciplines, following the suspension, by the Fij (International Judo Federation) and the Caj (African Judo Confederation), of the Fécojud-Da (Federation Congolese judo and associated disciplines), Congolese judokas can find their way back to African and international competitions. Indeed, the Fij lifted the suspension which hit the Fécojud-Da, in a letter addressed on November 12, 2024, to its president, Master Francis Neyt Ata Assiokarah.
Fécojud-Da was suspended at the African and global level, due to internal conflict linked to the presidency of this federation. The conflict arose in September 2017, around the contested re-election of Marien Ngouabi Ikama, thus paralyzing the functioning of the federation. On September 2, 2021, Master Francis Neyt Ata Assiokara was elected head of the federation, for his first Olympiad. Since then, he has relaunched the activities of the federation.
“Dear President Francis Neyt Ata Assiokarah, I hope this letter finds you in good health and I congratulate you on your recent election as President. I am writing to inform you that the suspension of Fécojud-Da has now been lifted. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require further information. I wish you all the best for your new role,” indicated the general secretary of the Fij, the British Lisa Allan, in a letter addressed to the president of Fécojud-Da, on November 12, 2024.
“We are very pleased to receive the notice of our suspension being lifted. I think the pleasure is shared. I ask all judokas, whether those in the diaspora or those in the country, we must speak the same language, to see the benefit of our discipline which has suffered a lot. Everyone, let’s line up and move forward, for the future of Congolese judo. We have been working with the Diable-Rouges athletes for two months to prepare for the Senegal competition. I think we will have the support of everyone, it is true that times are hard, but we are counting on the Ministry of Sports, the National Olympic Committee, so that judo will represent the Congo, for our first outing », Confided Master Francis Ata, reacting to the good news received from the Fij
This being said, we can say that of the different Congolese sporting disciplines, only basketball remains which is still suspended. But, today, we are also worried about the situation of Congolese football which is in crisis at the level of its federation and which is threatened with sanction by Fifa.
Long Ernest BAKALA
