The 1994 African Cup Winners’ Cup champions Daring Club (DC) Motema Pembe risk being punished for recruiting and fielding players despite being under a transfer ban imposed by FIFA.
The Congolese Football Federation (FECOFA), Kinshasa Football League, National Football League and the club itself held a meeting on Thursday, 12 February, 2026 to deliberate on the situation with the outcome is expected to have major sporting consequences for the Kinshasa side, commonly known as the Immaculates.
They face losing several points in the national championship standings and could also be disqualified from the Congo Cup, where they had progressed beyond the preliminary round.
With 27 titles at national level since 1963, the Motema Pembe is currently the most successful national club of the DRC was hit with a FIFA transfer ban, effective around June/July 2024, preventing them from registering new players for up to three consecutive registration periods due to outstanding contractual debts. This followed a previous long-term ban lifted in 2021 regarding unpaid wages to foreign players.
The team was sanctioned by FIFA with the transfer ban for failing to meet contractual commitments to coaches, including Otis Ngoma and Isaac Ngata, as well as certain players.
Complaints were subsequently lodged with FIFA, prompting the governing body to impose a transfer ban.
Despite the restriction, DCMP proceeded to sign and use players without obtaining prior authorisation.
Under both national and international regulations, such action is considered a serious offence and exposes the club to disciplinary measures.
The case was initially brought to the attention of authorities by FC Les Aigles du Congo.
After discovering the issue, the club refused to play the second leg of the Congo Cup preliminary round against DCMP and later repeated that stance in the national league fixture.
Their refusal surprised many observers at the time, but the reigning champions were ultimately deemed justified once the violation came to light.
With sanctions looming, the Immaculates now risk seeing their season unravel through administrative penalties rather than results on the pitch, as Congolese football authorities move to enforce the rules governing player registrations.
