The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed circulating reports claiming that FIFA has delivered a verdict on Nigeria’s protest against the DR Congo Football Federation over alleged ineligible players.
The controversy stems from Nigeria’s dramatic elimination on penalties by DR Congo in the final round of the African play-offs last November, a defeat that dashed the Super Eagles’ hopes of reaching the intercontinental play-offs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In the aftermath of the loss, the NFF lodged a formal petition with FIFA, challenging the eligibility of certain DR Congo players.
The federation argued that under Congolese law, dual nationality is generally not recognised for adults, raising questions about players who allegedly hold European passports while representing the Leopards.
However, the NFF has now clarified that FIFA has not issued any ruling on the complaint.
Ademola Olajire, the federation’s Director of Communications, described reports suggesting a decision has been made as “false and misleading.”
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“There is no decision from FIFA at this time. Any claims that a ruling has been made are false. FIFA has not communicated any verdict to the NFF or the Congolese federation,” Olajire said.
The clarification follows widespread online speculation, including fabricated documents purporting to show FIFA awarding Nigeria a 3–0 victory and reinstating the Super Eagles into the qualification race.
The NFF warned that such reports are entirely fake and should be disregarded.
Nigeria’s petition centres on the interaction between Congolese domestic law and FIFA’s regulations on player eligibility. According to the NFF, some DR Congo players may have retained foreign nationalities — including Belgian, English, French, or Dutch citizenship — without formally renouncing them, as Congolese law requires.
NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi explained that while FIFA typically recognises sporting nationality based on possession of a valid passport, the federation is concerned that incomplete or misleading documentation may have been submitted during the eligibility clearance process.
“As far as FIFA is concerned, once you have the passport of your country, you are eligible. But our concern is that FIFA may have been deceived into clearing them,” Sanusi said.
The DR Congo Football Federation has firmly rejected Nigeria’s claims, urging the Super Eagles to accept the result on the pitch.
Hérita Ilunga, Director of Football for the Congolese FA, insisted that FIFA’s definition of sporting nationality — not domestic citizenship law — governs player eligibility in international competitions.
“If that is the case, I advise my dear Naija to focus instead on AFCON,” Ilunga said.
On social media, the Leopards’ official account framed Nigeria’s petition as an attempt to overturn a sporting outcome through legal manoeuvres, stating: “If you can’t win on the pitch, don’t try to win from the back door.”
FIFA retains the authority to investigate allegations of fraud, falsified documentation, or ineligible players. Sanctions, where applicable, could range from match forfeitures to player bans or expulsion from competitions. However, the global body generally relies on submitted passports and official documents when granting clearance.
For now, the matter remains under review. The NFF says it will only communicate further once it receives formal notification from FIFA.
Until then, claims of a ruling either in favour of Nigeria or against DR Congo remain unfounded, with the final decision — whenever issued — expected to clarify both the eligibility question and the Super Eagles’ World Cup trajectory.