The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has formally initiated an appeal against the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision to dismiss its protest regarding the 2026 World Cup playoffs.
The NFF had challenged the eligibility of several players fielded by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) during their decisive encounter in Rabat, Morocco, last November, which saw Nigeria eliminated following a 4-3 penalty shootout defeat.
The core of the NFF’s grievance involves alleged “perceived fraud” and irregularities in the issuance of passports to certain Congolese players.
Despite months of review, FIFA ultimately rejected the petition, a verdict that the Nigerian football governing body refuses to accept.
NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, confirmed the move on Tuesday, stating: “We have received the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee on our petition, but we are not satisfied with the decision, which rejected our petition. I want to assure Nigerians that the NFF has immediately commenced the process of appealing the decision.”
As the legal battle continues, DR Congo is moving forward with its preparations for the intercontinental playoffs scheduled for later this month in Mexico.
The Congolese squad is slated to face the winner of the match between Jamaica and New Caledonia, with a final spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the line.
The NFF’s appeal represents a last-ditch effort to overturn the qualification outcome through official judicial channels.
