By Peter Dansu Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup have received a significant boost following confirmation that the Nigeri...
By Peter Dansu
Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup have received a significant boost following confirmation that the Nigeria Football Federation has launched a formal probe into DR Congo’s use of allegedly ineligible players during the qualifiers.
The move, first reported by PUNCH Online, comes months after DR Congo knocked Nigeria out of the African play offs in November, edging the Super Eagles 4–3 on penalties in Morocco, a defeat that appeared to have shut the door on Nigeria’s chances of reaching the tournament billed for the United States Canada and Mexico.
DR Congo went on to secure a bye into the final of the intercontinental play off tournament where they are due to face the winner of the semi final clash between New Caledonia and Jamaica. That position is now under threat as questions emerge over the eligibility of several players fielded by the Congolese side during the African play offs.
According to reports, between six and nine DR Congo players who switched national allegiance may not have fully met the legal requirements under Congolese law before representing the country. While FIFA is said to have cleared the players based on their possession of valid DR Congo passports, concerns have been raised that they failed to formally renounce their previous citizenships, a requirement under DR Congo’s constitution which does not recognise dual nationality.
A member of the NFF executive board confirmed that the federation has already taken decisive steps.
“NFF has done the needful,” the official told PUNCH Online. “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 officially challenged the players’ switch of allegiance.
“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.
“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 unfolding situation has rekindled optimism among Nigerian football fans, offering a possible route back into contention for the 2026 World Cup after the Super Eagles missed out on the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
DR Congo, for their part, have only featured once at the FIFA World Cup, making their sole appearance in 1974 when the country competed under the name Zaire.
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