The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially lodged a petition with FIFA. They allege that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) fielded ineligible players during their recent World Cup qualification play-off. This move casts a shadow over the DRC’s path to next year’s tournament in North America.
Last month, the DRC defeated Nigeria on penalties. This victory kept their World Cup dreams alive. Consequently, the win secured them a spot in the upcoming inter-confederation playoffs in March. At that tournament, six global teams will compete for the final two slots at the expanded 48-team finals.
The Dual Nationality Controversy
Nigeria’s complaint focuses on the legal status of several players within the Congolese squad. According to the NFF, the DRC fielded multiple players holding dual nationalities. Specifically, they cited players with French and Dutch passports. The NFF claims this violates the DRC’s own national laws.
Mohammed Sanusi, the general secretary of the NFF, explained the argument. He acknowledged that the players met FIFA’s broad eligibility criteria. This requires holding a passport of the country they represent. However, Sanusi argues that the clearances were obtained under false pretenses.
“The Congolese rules say you cannot have dual nationality,” Sanusi stated. “FIFA regulations say once you have the passport of your country, you are eligible. As far as we are concerned, they are eligible that is why they are cleared by FIFA.”
Nevertheless, he insists that the global governing body was misled.
“Our contention is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them because it is not the responsibility of FIFA to make sure that the regulations of Congo are abided by,” Sanusi added. “We are saying that it was fraudulent.”
DRC Hits Back
The Congolese Football Federation (Fecofa) has rejected the accusations. In a sharp social media post, they dismissed the petition. They called it a desperate attempt to overturn a sporting result.
“If you cannot win on the pitch, then do not try to win from the back door,” the federation stated. “The World Cup has to be played with dignity and confidence. Not with lawyers’ tricks. Bring it on.”
FIFA has not yet issued an official comment on the petition. The 2026 World Cup will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
