FIFA has dismissed Nigeria's protest regarding the eligibility of several Democratic Republic of Congo players in the African qualification playoffs for the 2026 World Cup, effectively ending the Super Eagles' hopes of reaching the tournament.
The decision upholds DR Congo's 4-3 penalty shootout victory (after a 1-1 draw) over Nigeria in the playoff final held on November 16, 2025, in Rabat, Morocco.
That win secured DR Congo's spot in the intercontinental playoffs scheduled for March 2026 in Mexico, where they will compete for one of the final two places at the expanded 48-team World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Nigeria's Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) lodged the appeal on December 16, 2025, alleging that up to nine DR Congo players – many of whom switched international allegiance from European nations were ineligible.
The protest centered on DR Congo's constitutional ban on dual citizenship, claiming that some players retained foreign passports and that the clearance process may have involved misleading information provided to FIFA.
FIFA's disciplinary committee reviewed the evidence and concluded that there was insufficient proof of any violation of its eligibility regulations, which primarily require a player to hold a valid passport of the representing nation.
All disputed players had been pre-cleared by FIFA prior to the qualifiers.The Congolese Football Federation (Fecofa) welcomed the ruling, reiterating that their players fully complied with international rules and accusing Nigeria of attempting to overturn an on-field result through administrative means.
NFF officials expressed disappointment but stated they respect FIFA's final decision in eligibility matters.
This outcome means Nigeria will miss the 2026 World Cup, marking the first time the Super Eagles have failed to qualify for consecutive tournaments since the 1990s.
DR Congo now advances to the intercontinental playoffs, maintaining their path toward a potential historic appearance at the global finals.
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