The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has petitioned FIFA over the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DR Congo) alleged use of ineligible players during the African World Cup playoffs in Morocco.
After regulation and extra-time ended 1-1, DR Congo edged out the Super Eagles 4–3 on penalties in the final of the African playoffs for the 2026 World Cup.
The win means DR Congo progress to the inter-confederation playoffs, where they will face the winners of Jamaica versus New Caledonia for a place at next year’s FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
It was reported that many of the players who featured for DR Congo in the playoffs are foreign-born and were only recently cleared to play for the country.
Under Congolese law, dual nationality is not recognised. Children born abroad to Congolese parents may hold dual citizenship only until the age of 21, after which they must renounce one nationality.
NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi accused the Congolese football authorities of misleading FIFA to secure clearance for players whose status violates DR Congo’s citizenship laws.
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According to Sanusi, Congolese laws clearly state that “you cannot have dual nationality,” yet several members of the Leopards squad who faced Nigeria reportedly hold both European and Congolese passports.
Sanusi described the actions of the DR Congo FA as “fraudulent,” positing that the players should never have been eligible for selection, that FIFA approved the players based on its own eligibility rules, which differ from DR Congo’s internal laws.
“FIFA cleared the players because FIFA’s eligibility rule is different from DR Congo’s rule. FIFA regulations say that once you have the passport of your country, you are eligible,” Sanusi said.
“But our contention is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them. Because it is not the responsibility of FIFA to ensure that the regulations of DR Congo are being abided by. It was on the basis of what was presented to FIFA that the players were cleared. But we are saying it was fraudulent.”
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles are currently in Egypt preparing for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
As part of preparations for the AFCON, the Super Eagles faced Egypt in a friendly match which they lost 2-1.
The Super Eagles are in Group C at this year’s AFCON alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania.
By James Agberebi
5 Comments
The DRC Sporting Director has replied that FIFA only concerns itself with sporting eligibility (that is, as long as a valid passport is presented), and not legal eligibility (a country’s internal citizenship rules).
This is a dicey, potentially landmark case for FIFA. What makes it complex for Nigeria and Cameroon is that if DRC is disqualified, it will open a Pandora’s box.
Essentially, it will become harder and discouraging for players with dual nationality to switch because FIFA will start demanding proof beyond only a passport. DRC might even start investigating Nigerian foreign-born contingents for legal loopholes and potential petitions.
On the flipside, if DRC wins, it will make it easier to switch nationality, game the system, and lead to potential abuse by many African countries. For example, Guinea-Bissau might feel hard done by FIFA over the Emilio Nsue case and could sue FIFA for unfair disqualification during the WCQs proper.
My prediction: It will be a hard case, but FIFA will rule in favor of Nigeria and Cameroon and request a final match between the 2 countries to determine who plays Jamaica/New Caledonia in March.
God must be a Nigerian thou…lol
We don’t deserve to be at the world cup. period.
NFF should rest. Abeg.
NFF should allow the sleeping dogs lie. Let us forget the World Cup and concentrate on AFCON.
We caused the problem of inability to qualify.
With proper planning, Nigeria has no business in playing in Playoffs however we lost it with over reliance on great Oshimen for without him we cannot win any game.
It is very unfortunate.