Federal Council Opens New Mandate
On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, the Congolese Handball Federation, better known as Fécohand, opened the inaugural session of its new Federal Council at the Nicole Oba Gymnasium in the Talangaï district of Brazzaville.
The meeting doubled as a working congress and marked the first full gathering following the federation’s recent elections, attracting delegates, coaches, and referees eager to set priorities for the four-year cycle.
A Message of Unity Resonates in Talangaï
The newly confirmed president of the executive board framed the congress as a time to “reset grievances, heal divisions, and focus on on-court performance rather than hallway debates,” a remark that drew prolonged applause.
The final communiqué distilled this message: “The Federal Council invites all handball players to embrace cohesion over factionalism… only by working in synergy can we advance our sport.” Delegates stated this line would headline every regional dispatch this week.
Updated Statutes Strengthen Federation Governance
Beyond rhetorical calls, delegates rolled up their sleeves to revise the federation’s statutes, general regulations, and internal rules. This exercise, conducted article by article, updated electoral procedures, clarified club affiliation criteria, and aligned disciplinary chapters with current continental guidelines.
A heavily debated clause introduced graduated fines for organizing any handball activity without prior federation authorization. According to the drafting committee, this measure aims to deter “parallel tournaments” that drain sponsor revenue and complicate athlete insurance coverage.
The congress also mandated seasonal awards for top athletes, coaches, and administrators, hoping public recognition will cultivate role models for the next generation of goalkeepers, wingers, and referees across Congo-Brazzaville.
Ethics Code Replaces External Arbitration
A separate vote adopted an ethics code intended to fill the void left by Fécohand’s withdrawal from the Chamber of Conciliation and Arbitration in Sport (CCAS).
Under the new system, an independent ethics committee, appointed by the Federal Council, will review grievances, issue warnings, and, if necessary, recommend suspensions. Supporters said this internal mechanism offers faster resolutions without sacrificing procedural fairness.
Professional League Promises New Revenue Streams
The most transformative decision likely came with the green light for a professional handball league. Delegates unanimously approved a roadmap starting with eight flagship clubs, split between Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, before expanding to other departments.
The league’s status includes club licensing criteria, involving medical teams, audited financial statements, and minimum player salaries, signaling a shift from a semi-amateur status to a more commercially robust ecosystem.
Organizers anticipate a broadcast deal with national television, coupled with live streaming on social platforms, to broaden reach among the country’s 60 percent young population and attract viewers from the diaspora in Europe and North America.
Sponsorship prospects appear encouraging. Delegates reported exploratory talks with two telecommunications companies and a beverage corporation, though formal contracts await council ratification.
Timeline Set for Ambitious Reforms
Implementation now moves to specialized commissions, which must align competition schedules with academic holidays and international windows, finalize the fine matrix, and disseminate the ethics code in French and Lingala.
Clubs have until December 15 to submit registration files for the historic 2026 professional season. Training for table officials and statisticians is scheduled for early January at the National Institute of Sport.
As delegates packed up their notes late Tuesday, the president summarized the mood: “The easy part was voting; the hard part is execution. Yet, with unity restored, we can turn ambition into concrete results on and off the court.”