Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have received a potential lifeline following fresh allegations over the eligibility of players fielded by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) during the African qualification playoffs.
DR Congo had edged the Super Eagles on penalties in November to secure Africa’s place in the FIFA Intercontinental Playoffs. However, new reports suggest that the Congolese team may have breached eligibility rules by fielding several players who allegedly did not meet nationality requirements under both FIFA regulations and DR Congo’s domestic laws.
According to the reports, as many as six DR Congo players who switched national allegiance may not have completed the full eligibility process required to represent the country. Central to the allegations is the claim that the players failed to formally renounce their previous citizenships, a critical requirement because DR Congo does not recognize dual nationality.
Further concerns have been raised that some of the players involved were over the age of 21 and held European passports, including French and Dutch nationalities, potentially contravening eligibility rules governing nationality switches.
Confirming Nigeria’s position, the Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr Mohammed Sanusi, revealed that the federation has formally petitioned FIFA, challenging the eligibility of specific DR Congo players who featured in the decisive playoff match.
“We’re waiting. The Congolese rules say you cannot have dual citizenship or nationality,” Sanusi said. “Wan-Bissaka has a European passport. Some of them have French passports, some Dutch passports. The rules are very clear, and we have submitted our petition.”
Sanusi explained that FIFA had initially cleared the players based on documentation submitted by DR Congo, but Nigeria believes the world football governing body may have been misled during that process.
“That’s why FIFA cleared them,” he added. “FIFA rules say once you have the passport of your country, you’re eligible. As far as FIFA is concerned, they were eligible, and that’s why they were cleared. But our concern now is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them. It is not FIFA’s responsibility to enforce Congo’s domestic laws. FIFA goes by what is submitted to them, and we believe that submission was fraudulent.”
If FIFA rules in Nigeria’s favour and sanctions DR Congo, the Super Eagles could yet be reinstated into contention for the Intercontinental Playoffs, scheduled for March 2026 in Mexico, provided the fixtures have not already been concluded.
For now, Nigeria awaits FIFA’s verdict, with the possibility that their World Cup dream may still be alive despite the earlier setback.
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