The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has formally petitioned world football governing body, FIFA, over what it describes as the alleged use of ineligible players by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) during the recent African World Cup playoffs.
The petition follows Nigeria’s dramatic elimination by DR Congo in the final of the African playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the Leopards edged the Super Eagles 4–3 on penalties after regulation time failed to produce a winner. The victory secured DR Congo a place in the inter-confederation playoffs, where they are scheduled to face the winner of the Jamaica versus New Caledonia tie for a final spot at the World Cup.
For Nigeria, the defeat marked another painful setback, as it confirmed the Super Eagles’ absence from a second consecutive World Cup, following their failure to qualify for the 2022 tournament in Qatar. While the loss was initially accepted as a sporting disappointment, fresh controversy has now emerged, with the NFF questioning the eligibility of several Congolese players involved in the decisive playoff match.
At the centre of the dispute is the nationality status of a number of DR Congo players who featured in the playoffs. Many members of the Leopards’ squad were born outside the country and reportedly only recently received clearance to represent DR Congo at international level. The NFF argues that this clearance may be inconsistent with Congolese domestic laws governing citizenship.
According to Congolese legislation, dual nationality is not recognised. While children born abroad to Congolese parents may temporarily hold dual citizenship, this status is only permitted until the age of 21, after which individuals are required to renounce one nationality. The NFF contends that several players who featured against Nigeria are well above that age threshold and allegedly still hold dual citizenship, including European passports alongside Congolese documents.
NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, confirmed that the federation has escalated the matter to FIFA, accusing the Congolese football authorities of misrepresenting facts in order to secure international clearance for players who, under their country’s own laws, may not be eligible to represent the national team.
Speaking on the issue, Sanusi insisted that the petition is not based on speculation but on what he described as clear legal contradictions between DR Congo’s domestic citizenship laws and the documentation submitted to FIFA.
“Congolese law is very clear. You cannot have dual nationality,” Sanusi said. “Yet, several players who represented DR Congo against Nigeria reportedly hold both Congolese and European passports. That, in itself, raises serious questions.”
He further alleged that FIFA may have been misled in the clearance process, explaining that while FIFA’s eligibility rules differ from national citizenship laws, the global body relies on information provided by national football associations when approving players for international competition.
“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 explained.
“However, our contention is that FIFA was deceived into clearing these players. It is not FIFA’s responsibility to enforce DR Congo’s internal laws. FIFA acted based on what was presented to it, and we believe that what was presented was fraudulent.”
The NFF maintains that if FIFA had been properly informed of the full legal context surrounding Congolese nationality laws, some of the players in question would not have been granted approval to play. The federation is therefore seeking a thorough review of the documentation submitted by the DR Congo Football Association, as well as a reassessment of the match outcome if violations are established.
While critics have suggested that the petition amounts to a desperate attempt to overturn Nigeria’s elimination, NFF officials insist the issue goes beyond qualification hopes and speaks to the integrity of international football competitions.
“This is not just about Nigeria,” a source within the federation said. “It is about ensuring that all teams compete under the same rules and that no federation circumvents its own laws to gain an unfair advantage.”
As of now, FIFA has not issued an official response to the petition. However, the case is expected to undergo preliminary review, during which FIFA will assess whether there is sufficient evidence to warrant a full investigation into the eligibility of the players involved.
Should FIFA find merit in the NFF’s claims, the implications could be far-reaching, potentially affecting DR Congo’s playoff status and raising broader questions about nationality regulations and player eligibility across international football.
For Nigeria, the petition represents a final attempt to seek redress after another crushing World Cup disappointment. Whether it leads to any reversal or disciplinary action remains uncertain, but the controversy has once again highlighted the complex intersection of domestic law, FIFA regulations, and the globalised nature of modern football.
