Omotayo Fashola
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has suffered a major setback after FIFA dismissed its appeal regarding the disputed eligibility of players fielded by DR Congo, crushing the Super Eagles’ fading hopes of securing a 2026 World Cup spot through the intercontinental playoffs, as reported by Naija News.
An inside source revealed that FIFA finalized its ruling on Monday, February 17, notifying all involved federations while instructing them to refrain from public statements until the governing body makes an official announcement.
The source indicated that FIFA found Nigeria’s claims insufficient to disqualify DR Congo from advancing to the March playoffs, leading to the outright rejection of the NFF’s petition.
This verdict dashes Nigeria’s aspirations of participating in the six-team intercontinental qualifiers, eliminating any remaining chance for the Super Eagles to book a ticket to the 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
The controversy stems from Nigeria’s heartbreaking penalty shootout loss (4-3) against DR Congo in last November’s African playoff final in Morocco—a defeat that cost them direct qualification.
On December 15, 2025, the NFF formally lodged a complaint with FIFA, accusing six Congolese players of ineligibility after they switched nationalities shortly before the decisive match.
At the time, Nigerian officials remained optimistic about their case. NFF General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi stated, “We are confident in our position. The evidence is compelling, and we await FIFA’s final decision.”
Similarly, National Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko had expressed faith in a favorable resolution.
However, reports later surfaced suggesting DR Congo’s confidence in overcoming the challenge, with allegations that influential Francophone football leaders, including FIFA executives, were lobbying behind the scenes.
“High-ranking officials from Congo and other French-speaking nations reportedly leveraged their FIFA connections to sway the outcome,” according to Sports247 sources. “They feared Nigeria’s petition might succeed based on leaked documents and testimonies.”
Despite these claims, FIFA ultimately upheld the original result, leaving DR Congo’s playoff berth intact.
The NFF retains the right to escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), though it remains uncertain whether they will pursue further legal action.
