Nigeria’s World Cup Dream Revived as DR Congo Face Player Eligibility Probe

• The Nigeria Football Federation has opened an investigation into DR Congo’s alleged use of ineligible players during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, a move that could revive Nigeria’s qualification hopes.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed that it has initiated a formal probe into the eligibility of several DR Congo players used during the African play-offs of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The development follows Nigeria’s elimination by DR Congo in November after a dramatic 4–3 penalty shootout defeat in Morocco, which ended the Super Eagles’ hopes of advancing to the FIFA intercontinental play-off.

DR Congo has since been granted a bye into the final of the intercontinental play-off tournament, where they are expected to face the winner of the semi-final clash between New Caledonia and Jamaica. However, their place in that final could now be under threat.

Concerns raised by the NFF centre on reports that between six and nine DR Congo players who switched national allegiance may not have fully complied with eligibility requirements under Congolese law before representing the country.

While FIFA reportedly cleared the players on the basis that they possessed valid DR Congo passports, it is alleged that they failed to formally renounce their previous nationalities. DR Congo’s constitution does not permit dual citizenship, raising questions about the legality of their participation.

“NFF has done the needful,” a member of the federation’s executive board disclosed. “Their constitution does not allow dual citizenship, and about six to nine players had that status during the play-off. That is the loophole we are exploring. Our lawyers must have submitted the relevant documents to FIFA as well.”

NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, also confirmed that the federation has formally challenged the players’ eligibility.

“We’re waiting. The Congolese rules say you cannot have dual citizenship or nationality,” Sanusi said. “Wan-Bissaka has a European passport; some of them have French passports, others Dutch passports. The rules are very clear, and we have submitted our petition.”

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He added that FIFA’s clearance was based on information provided to it. “FIFA rules say once you have a passport of your country, you’re eligible, and that is why they were cleared. But our concern is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them. It is not FIFA’s responsibility to enforce Congo’s domestic regulations; FIFA acts based on what is submitted to it. What we are saying is that the process was fraudulent.”

The move has reignited Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, after missing out on the 2022 edition in Qatar.

DR Congo, for their part, has appeared at the FIFA World Cup only once, in 1974, when the country competed under the name Zaire.