Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup remain uncertain following their penalty shootout defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the African playoff decider.
DDM gathered that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has lodged a formal protest with FIFA, alleging that DR Congo fielded ineligible players during the tie.
The grievance centers on Axel Tuanzebe and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, both of whom featured for the Congolese Leopards.
According to the NFF, the duo’s participation violates Congolese citizenship rules, which purportedly prohibit players from holding dual nationality alongside a European passport.
Nigeria hopes that a successful appeal could disqualify DR Congo, opening the path for the Super Eagles to advance to the inter-confederation playoffs scheduled in Mexico in March 2026.
However, a source within the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has tempered expectations of any reversal.
The insider explained that FIFA’s eligibility rules prioritize valid passports issued by the relevant football association over national citizenship restrictions.
The source further indicated that even if irregularities are confirmed, FIFA would likely impose monetary fines or warnings rather than altering match outcomes or qualification results.
As it stands, DR Congo remain poised to contest the inter-confederation playoff, while Nigeria awaits FIFA’s ruling.
The development underscores the limited scope of eligibility protests in international football, with experts noting that administrative penalties rarely affect competitive results.