2026 World Cup: Hope rises for Nigeria as NFF submits petition against Congo DR

The coast seems to be getting clearer as there are indications that Nigeria may still have another shot at qualification for the 2026 World Cup as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has submitted petition to the world football governing body, the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) on the eligibility of some of DR Congo players who featured against the Super Eagles of Nigeria last month at the CAF final playoff which took place last month in Morocco. 

Sporting Tribune recalls that the Leopard of DR Congo team beat the Super Eagles through a penalty shoot-out after the regulation time ended in a 1-1 draw and thus qualified for the intercontinental playoff, which has been scheduled to hold in Mexico in March next year.

However, speaking with journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, the General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr Mohammed Sanusi, confirmed that the Federation has submitted a petition to FIFA to challenge the eligibility of some of the Congolese players who he said possess more than one passport and thus have dual nationality. 

According to Sanusi, FIFA regulations stipulate that a player can get his international clearance to play for the country of his birth in less than six months, but some of the players who featured against Nigeria during the qualifiers got their international clearance between two and three weeks automatically disqualifies them from playing for Congo DR for the period under review. 

He said, “You are required to get it (the clearance) at least less than six months. There are players that got theirs in just two or three weeks. That is what we consider a breach of that regulation. That was why we submitted that petition. We’re waiting (for the petition). 

“The Congolese rules state that you cannot have dual nationality. (Aaron) Wan Bissaka has a European passport. There are so many of them (the Congolese players) who have European passports. Some of them French passport, some of them Dutch passport. So, the rules are very clear. We cannot say anything now, but we’ve submitted our petition. 

Speaking on FIFA and DR Congo rules as far as international clearance is concerned, Sanusi added, “That is why FIFA cleared them. FIFA regulations said once you’ve a passport of your country, you are eligible. Now, as far as FIFA is concerned, they are eligible; that’s why they are cleared by FIFA. But our contention was that FIFA was deceived into clearing them. Because it’s not the responsibility of FIFA to make sure that regulations in Congo are … FIFA goes by its own regulations and it was on the basis of what was presented to FIFA, it was on that basis that FIFA cleared them. But we’re saying it was fraudulent.” 

Also clarifying on whether Nigeria will go on to represent Africa at the intercontinental playoff, should the petition scale through, Sanusi said, “I don’t know, but if we are able to scale through that, definitely we are to go for the international playoff.”

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