World football’s governing body, FIFA, will on Monday deliver a verdict that could dramatically alter Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup.
At the centre of the storm is a formal petition lodged by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) against the Democratic Republic of Congo Football Association over the alleged fielding of six ineligible players during last year’s African play-offs.
Nigeria were knocked out on penalties in Morocco, a defeat that appeared to end their qualification campaign. However, the NFF insists the matter is far from settled.
“We believe that we have a chance; that is why we petitioned. If we knew we didn’t have a chance, we wouldn’t have petitioned,” NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi said, stressing that Nigeria followed due process in submitting documents and legal arguments.
The case hinges on FIFA’s rules regarding nationality switches. Under existing regulations, a player may change international allegiance only once and must complete a formal approval process.
Nigeria’s argument, reportedly supported by material cited by BBC Sport, suggests that the Congolese FA misrepresented key details about the players’ status, particularly given DR Congo’s domestic prohibition of dual citizenship.
The situation has garnered wider attention due to the reported involvement of CAF General Secretary Véron Mosengo-Omba, who has close ties to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. With both sides reportedly ready to escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if necessary, FIFA is understood to be handling the file with extreme care.
Should Nigeria’s protest succeed, the Super Eagles would be reinstated into the intercontinental play-offs in Mexico later this month, where they would face the winner of Jamaica versus New Caledonia for one of the final tickets to the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, acknowledged that the saga may not end with Monday’s decision.
“It requires a lot of things, and by the time it is finally decided, whether Nigeria wins or DR Congo wins, I believe the case might even go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport,” Dikko said.