2026 World Cup: Nigeria’s Case Against DR Congo Watertight

Sunday December 21, 2025
www.thenewsdesk.ng

Nigeria’s petition to FIFA challenging the eligibility of several Democratic Republic of Congo players in the 2026 World Cup playoffs has been described as “very tight” by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, who insists the matter is grounded in law rather than sentiment.

The Super Eagles lost to DR Congo on penalties in Morocco last month, a result that handed the Leopards a place in the intercontinental playoffs scheduled for Mexico in March 2026. However, Nigeria has since lodged a formal complaint with FIFA, alleging that nine Congolese players were ineligible under domestic law, which does not permit dual citizenship.

“Our case is very tight, we’re not sore losers, this is part of the law,” Dikko told Arise TV.

“There are suspicions that some things have not been done right in accordance with the laws of the game. They have probably misrepresented their position to FIFA to obtain those clearances.

Just two days ago, FIFA ruled against Malaysia on the same issue because they procured the passports of their players illegally, and now they have forfeited all the matches they have played.”

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has argued that players such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe, who featured in the playoff, should not have been cleared to represent DR Congo.

NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, explained, “The Nigerian petition is on nine players of DRC. FIFA were deceived into clearing those players because it is not FIFA’s responsibility to interpret or enforce domestic citizenship laws. Congolese law does not permit dual nationality, yet some of the players involved reportedly hold European and French passports. What we are saying is that the process was fraudulent.”