Nigeria’s hopes of returning to the FIFA World Cup have received a significant lift following confirmation that the Nigeria Football Federation has formally questioned DR Congo’s use of players during the 2026 qualifiers.
The federation disclosed that it has lodged a petition with FIFA over the eligibility status of several Congolese players who featured in the decisive African play-off that knocked Nigeria out of contention.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles were edged out in November after a tense penalty shoot-out defeat in Morocco, a result that halted their qualification campaign and appeared to shut the door on the tournament set for the United States, Canada and Mexico.
However, that outcome may no longer be final. DR Congo, which progressed from the African play-offs, has since been placed directly into the final round of the intercontinental qualification series. Yet, their position is now under scrutiny.
At the heart of the dispute are claims that multiple Congolese players who switched national allegiance did not fully meet domestic legal requirements before representing the country at international level.
Reports indicate that between six and nine players allegedly retained foreign citizenships despite Congo’s constitution prohibiting dual nationality.
Although FIFA cleared the players based on possession of Congolese passports, the NFF argues that key legal steps were omitted.
A senior NFF official said the federation had identified what it believes is a critical gap in the process and has acted accordingly. According to him, relevant documents have already been forwarded to FIFA for review.
NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, also confirmed the submission, stressing that the matter goes beyond FIFA regulations alone.
He explained that while FIFA eligibility hinges on passport possession, the Congolese constitution imposes stricter conditions.
Sanusi noted that several players reportedly held European passports at the time they featured, a situation he described as incompatible with Congo’s nationality laws.
He added that the federation’s position is that FIFA was misled by incomplete disclosures.
Moreover, he maintained that FIFA’s clearance does not invalidate concerns around compliance with domestic laws, arguing that the alleged irregularities amount to a flawed eligibility process.
The unfolding case has renewed optimism within Nigerian football circles, especially after the Super Eagles missed out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, raising fears of consecutive tournament absences.
DR Congo, for its part, has a limited World Cup history, having made a single appearance in 1974 under the name Zaire.
Hence, the final outcome of the eligibility review could carry major implications for both nations’ World Cup ambitions.