The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially petitioned FIFA, alleging that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) fielded nine ineligible players during their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff match, which ultimately led to Nigeria's elimination. This significant development could potentially revive Nigeria's hopes of qualifying for the prestigious tournament set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

DR Congo secured their advancement to the intercontinental playoffs after a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Nigeria's Super Eagles in Morocco last November. However, the NFF's formal complaint now casts a serious shadow over DR Congo's qualification, raising critical questions about the legality of their squad. According to reports cited by PunchOnline and confirmed by NFF General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, the crux of the issue lies with between six and nine DR Congo players who reportedly switched national allegiance but may not have fully complied with specific requirements under Congolese law.

The core of the NFF's argument centers on DR Congo's constitution, which is understood to prohibit dual nationality. While FIFA had initially cleared these players based on their possession of valid DR Congo passports, the NFF contends that the global football governing body was "deceived" in this process. Dr. Sanusi elaborated, stating, "FIFA rules say once you have a passport of your country, you're eligible, and that is why they were cleared. But our concern is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them. It is not FIFA's responsibility to enforce Congo's domestic regulations; FIFA acts based on what is submitted to it. What we are saying is that the process was fraudulent." He further asserted that "DR Congo law does not permit dual citizenship, yet some of the players involved reportedly hold dual nationality," citing examples of players possessing European, French, or Dutch passports, such as Wan-Bissaka.

In a swift and unequivocal response, the DR Congo football federation utilized its official Instagram page to vehemently challenge Nigeria's actions. Accusing Nigeria of attempting to gain entry into the intercontinental playoffs "through the back door" after their on-field defeat, the Leopards' message declared, "If you can't win on the pitch don't try to win from the back door. The World Cup has to be played with dignity and confidence. Not with lawyers tricks. Bring it on. Allez y les Leopards. Bad losers."

The stakes involved in this dispute are exceptionally high for both footballing nations. For Nigeria, this represents a crucial opportunity to avoid the ignominy of missing consecutive World Cups, a fate they last experienced after failing to qualify for the 2022 edition in Qatar. A member of the NFF's executive board expressed confidence in their legal strategy, telling PUNCH Online, "Their constitution does not allow dual citizenship, and about six to nine players had that status during the play-off. That is the loophole we are exploring. Our lawyers must have submitted the relevant documents to FIFA as well." Conversely, DR Congo, whose sole FIFA World Cup appearance was in 1974 when they competed as Zaire, now faces the significant risk of disqualification from the intercontinental play-off tournament, where they were scheduled to meet the winner of the New Caledonia versus Jamaica semi-final. This unfolding legal and sporting confrontation promises a tense period with profound implications for the final roster of participants in the 2026 World Cup.