Nigeria’s World Cup exit under spotlight as FIFA’s DR Congo files emerge

Fresh revelations from internal FIFA documents have reopened Nigeria’s controversial 2026 World Cup elimination, with reports indicating that football’s world governing body was aware that the Democratic Republic of Congo had fielded an ineligible player against the Super Eagles but allowed the country to continue its qualification campaign.

An investigation by The New York Times, reported by journalist Tariq Panja, found that FIFA officials identified an eligibility problem involving DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who had previously represented France at youth level but had not completed the required process to switch his international affiliation to DR Congo.

The revelation is significant because Mpasi played in the decisive African playoff against Nigeria in November 2025, which DR Congo won on penalties after a 1-1 draw. He subsequently featured when DR Congo defeated Jamaica in the intercontinental playoff to secure its place at the 2026 World Cup.

According to the documents cited in the reports, FIFA officials considered several possible courses of action after examining the eligibility issue.

One option was reportedly to allow the result to stand. Others included imposing a fine on DR Congo, awarding the disputed match to Nigeria, or replacing DR Congo with Nigeria in the playoff against Jamaica.

That last possibility is particularly significant because it suggests Nigeria could have been given another route to the World Cup had FIFA opted for a sporting sanction against DR Congo.

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Nigeria Complaint Reopens Controversy

Nigeria had lodged a complaint with FIFA after its defeat by DR Congo, challenging the eligibility of players used by the Congolese side.

The complaint was ultimately dismissed on procedural grounds, with FIFA maintaining that its disciplinary bodies had considered the case and that the decision became final after the applicable appeal period elapsed.

However, the latest reports indicate that FIFA’s own legal review subsequently identified a problem with Mpasi’s international affiliation.

The goalkeeper had represented France at youth level and, according to the documents cited by The New York Times and Le Monde, had not completed the formal process required to change his sporting nationality before representing DR Congo.

The reports have therefore raised questions over whether the eligibility rules were applied consistently and why no sporting sanction was imposed after the issue was identified.

DR Congo Went on to Reach World Cup

Despite the eligibility controversy, DR Congo continued its qualification campaign and defeated Jamaica in the intercontinental playoff, securing a place at the World Cup.

Mpasi was involved in the qualification run and subsequently featured for DR Congo at the tournament, including against England.

The Associated Press reported that the goalkeeper played five qualifiers, including the decisive matches against Nigeria and Jamaica, before appearing at the World Cup.

Had DR Congo been removed from the playoff following a sporting sanction, Nigeria could have been considered as its replacement, according to one of the alternatives reportedly examined by FIFA officials.

The documents also reportedly showed that another possible consequence of overturning DR Congo’s results could have affected which African country entered the playoff stage.

FIFA Defends Judicial Process

FIFA has maintained that its judicial bodies operate independently and make decisions based on applicable regulations and the facts presented before them.

The governing body has also rejected suggestions that FIFA President Gianni Infantino interfered in the case.

The controversy has nevertheless attracted additional attention because of the relationship between Infantino and Véron Mosengo-Omba, president of the DR Congo football federation. The two have known each other since their university days in Switzerland and later worked together within European and world football structures.

There is no established evidence that Infantino intervened in the eligibility case, and FIFA has denied such interference.

Fresh Questions for Nigerian Football

For Nigeria, the revelations have revived a painful debate over the circumstances surrounding the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

The immediate issue is no longer simply the penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo but whether the eligibility complaint was handled in a manner consistent with FIFA’s regulations and previous precedents.

The documents reportedly show that FIFA officials considered a scenario in which Nigeria could have replaced DR Congo and faced Jamaica for the World Cup ticket.

That does not automatically mean Nigeria would have qualified, as it would still have needed to defeat Jamaica, but it establishes that an alternative route for the Super Eagles was considered during FIFA’s review.

The revelations are now likely to intensify calls for greater transparency over the decision-making process and the treatment of player-eligibility cases.