Nigeria is raising serious concerns regarding the eligibility of players fielded by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) in their recent playoff match for the African qualification of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This allegation has been brought to FIFA's attention through an official petition submitted by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), as confirmed by a spokesperson.
In a dramatic encounter last month, DR Congo triumphed over Nigeria in a penalty shootout, maintaining their ambition to compete in the upcoming World Cup in North America. They are now preparing for an inter-confederation playoff scheduled for March, where six teams will vie for just two coveted spots in the expanded 48-team tournament.
The NFF claims that several players, who hold dual nationality, were improperly cleared to play for DR Congo, despite not meeting the necessary eligibility criteria. "According to Congolese regulations, dual nationality players are not permitted to represent the national team," stated NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi during a press briefing.
He elaborated further, pointing out that many of these players possess European passports—some holding French or Dutch citizenship.
While FIFA guidelines dictate that possessing a passport from one's home country makes a player eligible, the NFF argues that this situation is misleading. "FIFA was misled into granting clearance to these players because they do not check whether national regulations are being followed. They operate based on the information presented to them," Sanusi asserted. He went on to claim that this situation reflects fraudulent practices.
In response to these allegations, DR Congo's football federation, known as Fecofa, has firmly denied any wrongdoing. "If you can’t secure a win on the field, then don’t resort to backdoor tactics," they stated in a social media message. They emphasized the importance of conducting the World Cup with integrity and confidence, dismissing any notion that legal maneuvering should play a role in the competition. "Let’s see how it goes!" they concluded.
As for FIFA, they have yet to provide a public response to this developing situation, especially outside their regular business hours. The excitement for the World Cup continues to build, with the tournament set to take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
