Nigeria’s quest for a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup has received an unexpected lifeline, as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has formally protested the eligibility of several players who featured for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) in their decisive playoff victory against the Super Eagles in November.
DR Congo secured Africa’s slot in the Intercontinental Playoffs by defeating Nigeria on penalties, but fresh allegations now suggest the Congolese side may have fielded ineligible players, potentially paving a dramatic path back to qualification for Nigeria ahead of the playoffs scheduled for March 2026.
According to emerging reports, up to six DR Congo players who had switched national allegiance may not have completed the full eligibility process mandated by FIFA regulations. Central to these allegations is the claim that these players failed to formally renounce their previous citizenships, a critical requirement given that DR Congo’s national laws reportedly do not recognize dual nationality. Further claims also suggest some players in the playoff match were over the age of 21 and in possession of European passports, potentially breaching specific eligibility rules.
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Confirming Nigeria’s official stance, the Secretary General of the NFF, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, disclosed that a formal protest has been submitted to FIFA. The protest specifically challenges the eligibility of certain DR Congo players over alleged violations of FIFA’s rules on nationality.
“We’re waiting. The Congolese rules say you cannot have a dual citizenship or nationality. Wan-Bissaka has a European passport, there are some of them that have French passports, some of them Dutch passports,” Sanusi stated, emphasizing the crux of Nigeria’s argument. “The rules are very clear, and we have submitted our petition.”
Dr. Sanusi further elaborated on the NFF’s position regarding FIFA’s initial clearance of the players. He explained that FIFA’s clearance was based on information provided to the world football governing body, but Nigeria now believes that this process may have been compromised by fraudulent submissions.
“That’s why FIFA cleared them. FIFA rules say once you have passports of your country, you’re eligible, as far as FIFA is concerned, they are eligible and that’s why they were cleared,” Sanusi added. “But right now, our concern is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them. It is not the responsibility of FIFA to ensure that the regulations of Congo are followed. FIFA goes by its own regulations, and it was on the basis of what was submitted to FIFA that they cleared them. What we are saying is that it was fraudulent.”
Should FIFA rule in Nigeria’s favour, the Super Eagles could potentially be reinstated into contention for the Intercontinental Playoffs set to be held in Mexico, provided the matches for that stage have not yet taken place. The development injects a significant dose of uncertainty and hope into Nigeria’s World Cup aspirations.
