JUST IN: 2026 World Cup hope alive for Nigeria as NFF petitions FIFA over ineligible DR Congo players
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has disclosed that it has formally challenged DR Congo’s use of allegedly ineligible players during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying play-offs, a situation that could reopen Nigeria’s route to the tournament.
Nigeria’s hopes suffered a major setback in November when the Super Eagles lost 4–3 on penalties to DR Congo in Morocco, a defeat that ruled them out of the African play-offs and ended their push for a place in the FIFA intercontinental play-off.
Following that win, DR Congo were granted a direct place in the final of the intercontinental play-off, where they are due to meet the winner of the semi-final between New Caledonia and Jamaica.
That position is now being questioned after the NFF raised concerns over the eligibility of several Congolese players who featured during the African play-offs.
According to reports, between six and nine DR Congo players who changed national allegiance may not have fully satisfied the requirements of Congolese law before representing the country.
While FIFA is said to have approved the players based on their possession of valid DR Congo passports, the NFF maintains that the players failed to formally give up their former citizenships, contrary to the country’s constitution, which prohibits dual nationality.
“NFF has done the needful,” a member of the federation’s executive board told news men.
“Their constitution does not allow dual citizenship, and about six to nine players had that status during the play-off. That is the loophole we are exploring. Our lawyers must have submitted the relevant documents to FIFA as well.”
NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, also confirmed that the federation has queried the players’ nationality switch.
“We’re waiting. The Congolese rules say you cannot have dual citizenship or nationality,” Sanusi said.
“Wan-Bissaka has a European passport; some of them have French passports, others Dutch passports. The rules are very clear, and we have submitted our petition.
“FIFA rules say once you have a passport of your country, you’re eligible, and that is why they were cleared,” Sanusi explained.
“But our concern is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them. It is not FIFA’s responsibility to enforce Congo’s domestic regulations; FIFA acts based on what is submitted to it. What we are saying is that the process was fraudulent.”
The latest development has lifted Nigeria’s hopes of still qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, after also missing out on the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
