Democratic Republic of Congo has reacted to the petition filed against them by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, reports Completesports.com.
The Leopards beat Eric Chelle’s men 4-3 in the final of the 2025 FIFA World Cup African playoffs last month.
The NFF confirmed on Tuesday that it has have filed a petition against DR Congo for fielding several ineligible players in the encounter.
DRC fired back at the petition with very strong words.
“If you can’t win on the pitch, don’t try to win from the back door,” they wrote on their official X handle
“The World Cup has to be played with dignity and confidence. Not with lawyers’ tricks.Bring it on!”
By Adeboye Amosu
13 Comments
…God is a Nigerian. Congo… please tell the world why you deceived FIFA to clear players that were not Congolese? See wetin AI talk for the matter when FIFA ask AI last night… excerpts:
FIFA: AI… please do a deep dive and share clarifications on the eligibility matter for which Nigeria has petitioned DR Congo regarding aliens playing for them against Nigeria in the World Cup Qualifying playoffs recently in Morocco. Does Democratic republic of Congo recognize dual nationality?
AI: Dear FIFA… thank you for seeking clarification on this tricky matter which is a real shame that DR Congo apparently has crashed their own party… this is my candid take and the truth based on standing DR Congo’s official position on the matter and still remains so even at the time of this answer:
“No, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) generally does not allow dual nationality, with its constitution stating Congolese nationality is singular and exclusive, though there’s an exception for children born abroad until age 21; however, the Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville) does recognize dual citizenship, so it’s crucial to know which Congo you mean, as the DRC’s strict rules recently caused FIFA controversy over ineligible players.
For the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC):
Strictly Prohibited: The DRC constitution bans dual citizenship, requiring individuals to renounce other nationalities to be Congolese, or vice versa.
Exception: Children born abroad may retain dual nationality until age 21, when they must choose.
Recent Issues: This rule is central to a FIFA investigation where Nigeria claims DR Congo used ineligible players (like Aaron Wan-Bissaka) who hold other passports, leading to potential sanctions”.
AI Deepdive:
FIFA: AI… please do a deep dive and share clarifications on the eligibility matter for which Nigeria has petitioned DR Congo regarding aliens playing for them against Nigeria in the World Cup Qualifying playoffs recently in Morocco. Does Democratic republic of Congo recognize dual nationality?
AI: Dear FIFA… thank you for seeking clarification on this tricky matter which is a real shame that DR Congo apparently has crashed their own party… this is my candid take and the truth based on standing DR Congo’s official position on the matter and still remains so even at the time of this answer:
“No, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) generally does not allow dual nationality, with its constitution stating Congolese nationality is singular and exclusive, though there’s an exception for children born abroad until age 21; however, the Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville) does recognize dual citizenship, so it’s crucial to know which Congo you mean, as the DRC’s strict rules recently caused FIFA controversy over ineligible players.
For the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC):
Strictly Prohibited: The DRC constitution bans dual citizenship, requiring individuals to renounce other nationalities to be Congolese, or vice versa.
Exception: Children born abroad may retain dual nationality until age 21, when they must choose.
Recent Issues: This rule is central to a FIFA investigation where Nigeria claims DR Congo used ineligible players (like Aaron Wan-Bissaka) who hold other passports, leading to potential sanctions”.
If you used ineligible players to play your qualifier then you are more of a cheat and planking to qualify through the back door.
The rule is what it is, you used multiple ineligible players to prosecute ur matches and you expect other teams to keep mute?
Awon alainitiju eyan. Shameless NFF.
If you put your house in order, do you think the Super Eagles and Nigeria’s name will be in this mess, NFF?
Can’t President Tinubu disband this NFF, no?
The disgrace the NFF is putting on Nigerians is too much.
Afcon is about to start, nobody cares anymore. Shame on you NFF. Leave Dr Congo a lone .ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Honestly not to take anything away from your statement, I agreed with you. The nff are the scape goat in this matter, in extension the coaches and the players. For P-BAT cannot mediate in the affairs of football in nff. It’s forbidden and will cause serious consequences from FIFA. The best thing is to wait till the next election and do the needful.
Really though, is that how Nigeria have fallen?
We harassed FIFA on South Africa ineligible player. South Africa still topped our group despite 3 points and 3 goals deduction.
Okay, we snuck through the backdoor into the playoffs after being fortuitous to have Burkina Faso play earlier to nick the 4th spot of the playoffs.
Now, we want to be third time lucky with this Congo fiasco.
Perhaps DRC are afraid but did NFF even engage any consultant on the matter?
How are the mighty fallen!
Okay, here is my take on this matter.
The Super Eagles were clearly outclassed by the Congolese players in the World Cup qualification playoff.
This came about because of the (high) quality of players paraded by Congo on the day.
(Some of) These supremely talented players qualified to play for Congo by obtaining Congolese passports.
Now, according to the Congolese constitution (as it currently stands), these players should have renounced their initial citizenship to qualify for Congolese citizenship.
Now, if it can be proven that those Congolese players, who were excellent against Nigeria, who used their superior skills to suppress Nigeria to submission, never renounced their European citizenships before obtaining Congolese passports, then there is a domino effect of fraud.
The domino: Congolese constitutional law was violated, and this violation invalidates the Congolese passports submitted to FIFA to clear said players to play against Nigeria.
Nigeria are ultimately crying foul play, arguing that, had legally sound Congolese players featured against the Super Eagles on the night, Nigeria would have prevailed.
Now, this is just my theory. I might be wrong.
But, if true, even some die-hard Nigeria fans are disappointed in the NFF for shamelessly pursuing this matter. These fans claim that the Super Eagles would never have been in the situation if the NFF had put its house in order. Nigeria, Nigeria fans argue, get what they deserve by being booted out of the qualification by Congo. Football, they say, should be decided on the pitch, and not in the courtroom.
NFF claim that, had Congo fielded legitimate players on the pitch, Nigeria would indeed have settled the matter on the pitch, in effect saying that Congo cheated, and it is Congo who didn’t act in the spirit of fair play.
I see where both sides are coming from. Should FIFA uphold Nigeria’s complaint and Nigeria ultimately qualifies for this World Cup, for me, it will be a World Cup qualification wrapped in the wrapper of shame and disgrace. Even with the calibre of players paraded by Congo on the day, a well-prepared, well-groomed and well-drilled Super Eagles outfit should have been able to, at the very least, nick a slim victory.
Eric Chelle, a coach I have huge admiration for, is really not up to the level required to coach the Super Eagles. Yet, the Football Authorities are allegedly owing him months’ worth of wages. Is this where you want a credible coach to work? Even the players had to demonstrate before the encounter, and Iwobi filmed the pit laterine disguised as a hotel they were lodged for this encounter.
Rather than pursue this matter, NFF officials should pursue integrity, probity, virtue and uprightness for, by only focusing on the right things will they earn the right rewards for a team that was once the beacon of greatness in global football.
I believe someone from FIFA gave the NFF this expo. There no way the blocked heads at the NFF figured this sh*t out themselves
DR Congo used mercenary and outclassed the super eagles.Some of these mercenaries ply their trade in lower leagues of Europe but most of them are top professionals.
Going by their profile,they’re not superior players than our super eagles I would say we’re at per but their technical department on the night out did ours.It was like seeing a prime Barcelona against a small opposition.It was a disgrace,we had no answer..
A team Cameroon dominated outclassed the super eagles.It was really a nightmare,we were lucky not to have conceded a dozen of goals…
My observation,Nigerian top foreign born professionals that would have made our team stronger would rather choose to play for their country of birth than Nigeria.We’re not a serious country a lot going on here so for that very reason not a place to attract players of that level.
Imagine having Eze,Saka,Musiala in our midfield,we wouldn’t be dominated by DR Congo.
So what’s the way forward?We have to revamp our youth system to bring the best out of our young talents.Its obvious the supply pool is dead and the super eagles not successful in getting our best foreign borns has made our team weak and vulnerable…
The NFF have to seat up and start from the scratch,I mean youth development otherwise if the current trend continues, we’ll be worse than South Sudan very soon.
Thumbs up @Greenieman. You have said it all.
Nigeria doesn’t even stand a chance. Cameroon joined the petition. That is like running from frying pan (being beaten by DRC) to fire (playing Cameroon) if FIFA is not tired of Nigerian shenanigans. Make we kuku forget the world cup jare. Shame on both the players, coaches and NFF for reducing our football to this rubbish standard
“If you can’t win on the pitch, don’t try to win from the back door. The World Cup has to be played with dignity and confidence. Not with lawyers’ tricks. Bring it on!”
“Patriotic” Nigerians…….behold what you have reduced your football to. When we talk, they call us names and claim we are haters and not loyal to our country.
The legal department of the NFF is busier these days than its technical department. We have been reduced to looking for boardroom favors to qualify for tournaments.
DR Congo can win their case if it can get good lawyers. And I don’t want to think their govt will sit back and watch the WC qualification they have chased for 52 years slip out of their fingers. If they do, then good luck to Nigeria.
FIFA doesn’t meddle in a sovereign state’s constitutional affairs. A simple back-dated letter from the presidential palace in Kinshasa can send this reap-from-where-they-did-not-sow NFF and their lawyers home with tail between their legs. They have the aces up their own sleeves.
But once again, if the govt chooses to throw away a 50-year-old ticket, then good luck to Nigeria. I’ve always wished for the sake of these players that they get to participate in the World Cup at least once in their careers
This is true. Heaven bless you lots.