The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially dismissed reports claiming that the Super Eagles’ hopes for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been extinguished.
Speaking to PUNCH Sports Extra, NFF Director of Communications Ademola Olajire clarified that the federation has received no formal notice from FIFA regarding the ongoing eligibility dispute with DR Congo.
He emphasized that recent media reports declaring Nigeria’s disqualification were based on a recycled FIFA publication from November 2025, rather than a new ruling.
Read Also: FIFA Takes Action On DR Congo Amid Nigeria’s World Cup Hopes
The controversy centers on a formal protest filed by the NFF in December 2025.
Nigeria alleges that DR Congo fielded ineligible players, specifically former England youth internationals Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe.
The NFF argues that because Congolese law prohibits dual citizenship, these players were cleared by FIFA under false pretenses.
NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi has been vocal about this position, while the Congolese Federation has dismissed the protest as an attempt to qualify through the “back door.”
The confusion in the media arose after outlets cited a three-month-old FIFA statement listing DR Congo as a confirmed qualifier for the inter-confederation play-offs.
However, that list was published before Nigeria’s protest was even under consideration. Currently, FIFA is reviewing the matter but has yet to provide a definitive timeline for a verdict, leaving both nations—and potential opponents like Jamaica—in a state of operational limbo.
With the inter-confederation play-offs scheduled to begin on March 26 in Mexico, the stakes for Nigeria are incredibly high.
Having missed the 2022 World Cup, the Super Eagles are desperate to see their star-studded squad, featuring Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, compete on the world stage.
For now, the NFF maintains that the case remains active and urged fans to ignore premature reports of their elimination.
