Nigeria’s petition to FIFA challenging the eligibility of several Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) players in the 2026 World Cup playoffs has been described as “very tight” by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko.
He emphasized that the case is grounded in law, not sentiment.
The Super Eagles were eliminated by DR Congo on penalties in Morocco last month, handing the Leopards a place in the intercontinental playoffs scheduled for Mexico in March 2026.
Nigeria has since filed a formal complaint with FIFA, alleging that nine Congolese players were ineligible under DRC’s domestic law, which does not permit dual citizenship.
“Our case is solid. We’re not sore losers; this is about enforcing the law,” Dikko told Arise TV.
“There are suspicions that some procedures were not correctly followed in accordance with the laws of the game. Some players may have misrepresented their status to FIFA to obtain clearance.”
“Just two days ago, FIFA ruled against Malaysia for the same issue, overturning matches where players had procured passports illegally.”
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) maintains that players such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe, who featured in the playoff, should not have been cleared to represent DRC.
NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi explained, “The petition concerns nine DRC players. FIFA was misled into clearing these players because it is not responsible for enforcing domestic citizenship laws.
“Congolese law prohibits dual nationality, yet some players reportedly hold European or French passports. The process was therefore fraudulent.”
In response, DR Congo dismissed Nigeria’s petition, accusing the Super Eagles of trying to qualify “from the back door.”
In a statement on its official Instagram page, the Congolese team said: “If you can’t win on the pitch, don’t try to win from the back door. The World Cup must be played with dignity, not with lawyers’ tricks. Bad losers.”
The dispute has reignited debate among Nigerian supporters, many hopeful that FIFA’s review could alter the playoff outcome.
Nigeria last appeared at the World Cup in 2018 and missed the 2022 edition in Qatar, raising fears that another absence in 2026 would deepen disappointment.
FIFA statutes allow a player to change national association only once, subject to approval by its Players’ Status Committee.
While FIFA requires a player to hold a passport from the new nation, Congolese law prohibits dual nationality, creating potential legal conflict.
Past cases indicate FIFA could overturn results, deduct points, or impose fines when ineligible players are fielded.
The matter now rests with FIFA, which will determine whether DR Congo violated eligibility rules.
Should Nigeria’s petition succeed, the Super Eagles could be reinstated into contention for the intercontinental playoffs in Mexico, provided fixtures have not yet been played.
“This is not about emotions. It is about the law. If rules have been broken, justice must be served,” Dikko concluded.
