Nigeria’s fading 2026 World Cup dream has been dramatically jolted back to life after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed it has filed a formal petition over DR Congo’s alleged use of ineligible players in the qualifiers.
The petition, now before FIFA, centres on DR Congo’s controversial victory over Nigeria in November, when the Congolese edged the Super Eagles 4–3 on penalties in Morocco to knock them out of the African play-offs and extinguish hopes of reaching the FIFA intercontinental play-off.
But that exit may yet be reversed.
Fresh concerns raised by the NFF question the eligibility of between six and nine DR Congo players who reportedly switched nationality but may not have satisfied the country’s strict constitutional requirements before featuring in the decisive ties.
Although FIFA had earlier cleared the players on the strength of valid DR Congo passports, the NFF argues that the world football body was misled. Under Congolese law, dual nationality is not permitted, and the players in question are said to still hold European passports, including French, Dutch and other nationalities, without formally renouncing them.
“NFF has done the needful,” a senior federation official told PUNCH Online. “Their constitution does not allow dual citizenship, and some of the players fielded during the play-off had that status. Our lawyers have submitted all relevant documents to FIFA.”
NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, also confirmed the move, insisting that the issue goes beyond FIFA’s clearance process.
“FIFA rules say once you have a passport of your country, you’re eligible, and that was why they were cleared,” Sanusi said. “But our position is that FIFA was deceived. It is not FIFA’s job to enforce Congo’s domestic laws; FIFA acts on what is submitted. What we are saying is that the process was fraudulent.”
The probe casts a shadow over DR Congo’s place in the final of the intercontinental play-off, where they are due to face the winner of the semi-final between New Caledonia and Jamaica, after receiving a bye.
For Nigeria, the development offers a rare glimmer of hope after the painful prospect of missing back-to-back World Cups, following their failure to qualify for Qatar 2022.
As FIFA reviews the petition, the Super Eagles and their millions of supporters will be watching closely, hoping that paperwork, not penalties, may yet reopen the road to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
DR Congo, who last appeared at the World Cup in 1974 as Zaire, now face a tense wait as the eligibility storm gathers pace.
 confirmed it has){kind=link}