The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reacted strongly to Nigeria’s petition to FIFA over allegations that the Leopards fielded ineligible players during their 2026 World Cup playoff clash, warning the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) against seeking victory off the pitch.
The reaction followed confirmation by the NFF that it had formally written to FIFA, challenging the eligibility of some Congolese players who featured in the playoff encounter that ended Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. DR Congo defeated the Super Eagles on penalties in November to secure Africa’s place in the Intercontinental Playoffs.
In a post shared on the national team’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, DR Congo dismissed the allegations and accused Nigeria of attempting to overturn the result through administrative means.
“If you can’t win on the pitch, don’t try to win from the back door. The World Cup must be played with dignity and confidence — not with legal tricks. Bring it on,” the post read.
Nigeria’s petition is reportedly based on claims that several DR Congo players who switched national allegiance may not have fully complied with eligibility requirements under FIFA rules. Central to the allegations is the issue of dual nationality, which DR Congo’s laws do not recognise.
Confirming the protest, NFF Secretary General, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said Nigeria had formally raised concerns with FIFA over possible violations of nationality regulations.
“We’re waiting. The Congolese rules say you cannot have a dual citizenship or nationality. Wan-Bissaka has a European passport, there are some of them that have French passports, some of them Dutch passports,” Sanusi said. “The rules are very clear, and we have submitted our petition.”
Sanusi added that FIFA’s earlier clearance of the players was based on information submitted by DR Congo, which Nigeria believes may not have fully reflected the situation.
“That’s why FIFA cleared them. FIFA rules say once you have passports of your country, you’re eligible, as far as FIFA is concerned,” he explained. “But our concern is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them.”
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