Explainer: who runs Congo's national competitions?

Congolese national football does not have a single organiser for every competition. FECOFA identifies three delegated leagues: LINAFOOT for the elite men's championships, LINAFF for women's football and LINAFJ for youth football. Understanding that division of responsibilities helps readers distinguish the institutions behind a fixture list or league table.

The federation gives LINAFOOT the task of organising and managing the national elite championship on its behalf. Its responsibilities cover Ligue 1 and the national Ligue 2 championship. FECOFA says the delegation operates according to reliability and viability criteria agreed with its executive committee.

LINAFOOT has administrative, technical and financial autonomy in running the championship. That does not remove federal oversight: it must coordinate its relationship with FECOFA's executive committee and report to it. The league comprises a general assembly and a management committee, whose members are elected by that assembly.

Responsibility for the national women's championship belongs to LINAFF. FECOFA describes comparable management autonomy and reporting obligations for this body, alongside responsibility for activities connected with women's football across the country. Women's competitions should therefore not automatically be attributed to LINAFOOT.

LINAFJ's remit includes the national U17 championship, academy championships and training centres. This is an organisational responsibility for youth football, not in itself an accredited-establishment directory or an admissions timetable.

The institutional overview is undated. It explains who organises what, but does not set the number of clubs, groups, promotion places, relegation rules or dates for a particular season. A Ligue 1, Ligue 2, women's or youth table needs to be read alongside the rules and phase of its own competition, rather than having a format inferred from this delegation alone.