NATIONS - World Cup 2022 qualifiers: DR Congo disqualified?

If the Democratic Republic of Congo qualified for the Africa zone play-offs counting for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers at the expense of Benin (2-0), the Leopards could well be caught up by the FIFA regulations.

Indeed, the Argentine coach Hector Cuper would have made his four changes in four different bursts instead of the three maximum ordered by the authority. Article 3 of the Laws of the Game indicates that “each team will have a maximum of three opportunities to make substitutions during the match; in addition, these replacements may be made at half-time."

The Squirrels would therefore have the right to lodge an appeal with the African Football Confederation, which could disqualify the DRC. As a reminder, this meeting counting for the last day was decisive for the qualification: indeed, Benin was first in group J before this trip to Congolese soil.

Already this season, a similar scenario had unfolded on the side of the German Cup: in fact, Wolfsburg had made a sixth change in extra time, which had cost them direct disqualification from the national tournament.