The world football governing body FIFA has officially acknowledged receipt of a formal petition from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) regarding alleged player eligibility violations by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) during their recent 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification playoff.
The petition, submitted by the NFF, accuses DR Congo of fielding several ineligible players many of whom are Europe-based dual nationals in their decisive African playoff final against Nigeria on November 16, 2025, in Rabat, Morocco. DR Congo advanced on penalties (4-3) after a 1-1 draw, securing a spot in the inter-confederation playoffs scheduled for March 2026. Nigeria’s loss ended the Super Eagles’ hopes of reaching the expanded 48-team World Cup finals in North America.
NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi has stated that the complaint centers on Congolese law, which does not permit dual citizenship for adults without formal renunciation of other nationalities. The NFF alleges that players such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, and others retained European passports (French, Dutch, and others) despite representing DR Congo, potentially misleading FIFA during the clearance process.
FIFA regulations primarily require a valid passport from the representing country for eligibility, but the NFF argues that incomplete or fraudulent documentation was provided, breaching both domestic Congolese law and FIFA’s statutes on player switches.
FIFA has confirmed it is reviewing the submitted documents and evidence. The process could lead to various outcomes, including dismissal of the petition, administrative sanctions against DR Congo’s federation (FECOFA), or, in severe cases, sporting penalties such as match forfeiture or disqualification from the intercontinental playoffs.
DR Congo has strongly rejected the allegations, dismissing them as an attempt by Nigeria to “win via the back door” after an on-field defeat. In statements on social media, FECOFA emphasized that all players were vetted and approved by FIFA based on sporting nationality, not domestic legal interpretations.
DR Congo’s Director of Football, Hérita Ilunga, urged Nigeria to focus on the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) instead.The case draws parallels to recent precedents, such as FIFA’s sanctions against Malaysia for eligibility breaches. Nigeria’s National Sports Commission Chairman Shehu Dikko has described the petition as “very tight” and grounded in regulations, expressing confidence in a favorable outcome.
Leave a Reply