Senegalese goalkeeper Aliou Faty has reportedly won a financial dispute against Democratic Republic of Congo club TP Mazembe, with FIFA said to have ordered the Lubumbashi side to pay him US$25,000.
The case concerns an unpaid signing bonus which Faty was seeking after joining TP Mazembe in 2023.
According to reports by Senegalese media outlet Sénégal 7, FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber ruled in the goalkeeper’s favour on 7 September 2026 and gave TP Mazembe 45 days to settle the amount.
Failure to comply with the decision could expose the Congolese club to disciplinary action, according to the reports.
The dispute adds to a difficult period for Faty, who has also lost his position as TP Mazembe’s first-choice goalkeeper since recovering from a serious knee injury.
The Senegalese goalkeeper had established himself as the club’s number one after arriving in Lubumbashi, but his injury led to a change in the goalkeeping order.
Faty has since found himself behind Marc Philips Arona Diouf in the hierarchy, according to L’Observateur.
His situation has remained unchanged despite TP Mazembe extending his contract for two years following his injury. That agreement was due to expire in 2025.
The financial disagreement centres on the US$25,000 signing bonus that Faty says he was owed by the club.
The amount is equivalent to more than 14 million CFA francs.
After the matter was taken to FIFA, the international governing body’s Dispute Resolution Chamber reportedly considered the claim and delivered its decision on 7 September.
L’Observateur also reported that TP Mazembe had been instructed to pay the full amount within 45 days.
The reported decision provides a new development in Faty’s relationship with the Congolese club, where his fortunes have changed significantly since his injury.
Before being sidelined, the Senegal international was a regular presence between the posts for TP Mazembe.
His return, however, has not resulted in a restoration of his previous position, with Diouf now ahead of him in the competition for the goalkeeper’s role.
The combination of his reduced playing status and the unresolved financial disagreement has made for a challenging period for the goalkeeper.
Faty joined TP Mazembe in 2023 after previously playing for Senegalese club Casa Sports.
He has also enjoyed international success, having been part of the Senegal side that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021 and the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in 2022.
The reported FIFA decision means the goalkeeper now has both a sporting and financial issue to navigate as he looks to revive his career.
For TP Mazembe, the 45-day period creates a clear deadline to resolve the payment dispute or potentially face disciplinary consequences.
The reports do not provide details of any appeal or further legal action by the club.
