The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has moved to silence widespread rumors claiming that FIFA has delivered a verdict on Nigeria’s formal protest against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) regarding the eligibility of certain players.
The controversy stems from the Super Eagles’ penalty shootout loss to the Leopards in the final round of the African play-offs last November—a defeat that seemingly ended Nigeria’s journey toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Following the match, the NFF challenged the eligibility of several Congolese players, arguing that because DR Congo law does not recognize dual nationality, players holding European passports might be ineligible to represent the team.
In response to a wave of online speculation and forged documents claiming Nigeria had been awarded a 3–0 victory, NFF Director of Communications Ademola Olajire clarified that no such decision exists.
He labeled these reports “false and misleading,” telling the 234Sports website: “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.”
The NFF’s petition specifically targets the Congolese domestic law prohibiting dual citizenship. The federation alleges that some Leopards players retained Belgian, English, French, or Dutch passports without properly renouncing their foreign status.
NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi suggested the Congolese FA may have provided flawed documentation to world football’s governing body, stating: “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.”
DR Congo has remained defiant, with Director of Football Hérita Ilunga dismissing the claims and advising the Super Eagles to “focus instead on AFCON.”
The Congolese FA further mocked the legal challenge on social media, posting: “If you can’t win on the pitch, don’t try to win from the back door. The World Cup has to be played with dignity and confidence, not with lawyers’ tricks. Bring it on!”
While FIFA has the power to issue match forfeitures or bans if fraud is discovered, it typically relies on the passports provided during the initial clearance process.
As of Monday, February 16, 2026, the NFF maintains that the case remains under review and has urged fans to ignore any unfounded claims until an official FIFA communication is received.
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