AFCON 2025
The Nigeria Football Federation have submitted a petition to FIFA on the use of ineligible players by DR Congo during the 2026 World Cup playoffs last month.
According to the Secretary General of the football federation, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, in an interview, said the NFF are awaiting FIFA’s verdict on the matter.
DR Congo law does not permit dual citizenship. It is not FIFA’s duty to know the domestic laws; that is why we formally drew FIFA’s attention to the issue, and we are now awaiting their verdict.”
The allegation focuses on DR Congo’s use of nine ineligible players who switched nationality without completing the full legal and administrative procedures required under Congolese law and FIFA statutes.
DR Congo does not permit dual citizenship according to its laws, and as such, individuals switching nationality must renounce their original citizenship.
In addition, having a passport does not automatically confer eligibility on a player to represent a national team according to FIFA rules. A player must also complete domestic documentation and FIFA regulations governing the change of nationality.
Reports indicate that some of the players who switched allegiance to DR Congo before the play might not have fully satisfied these conditions.
FIFA are set to investigate the matter, and the verdict might reveal or finally bury Super Eagles’ chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Recall that DR Congo knocked Nigeria out of the decisive playoff for CAF’s intercontinental qualifying spot.
