The Nigeria Soccer Federation has confirmed that it has initiated a probe into DR Congo’s use of ineligible gamers throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, a improvement that would reopen Nigeria’s path to the match in america, Canada, and Mexico.
DR Congo eradicated Nigeria from the African play-offs in November after a 4–3 penalty shoot-out victory in Morocco, a consequence that ended the Tremendous Eagles’ hopes of progressing to the FIFA intercontinental play-off.
The Congolese facet has since been handed a bye into the ultimate of the intercontinental play-off match, the place they’re scheduled to face the winner of the semi-final between New Caledonia and Jamaica.
Nevertheless, their participation at that stage might now be unsure following issues raised by the NFF over the eligibility of a number of DR Congo gamers fielded throughout the African play-offs.
Stories recommend that between six and 9 DR Congo gamers who switched nationwide allegiance might not have absolutely complied with the eligibility necessities beneath Congolese legislation earlier than representing the nation.
Whereas FIFA reportedly cleared the gamers on the premise that they possessed legitimate DR Congo passports, it’s alleged that they didn’t formally resign their earlier citizenships, opposite to the Central African nation’s structure, which doesn’t allow twin nationality.
“NFF has finished the needful,” a member of the federation’s government board stated.
“Their structure doesn’t enable twin citizenship, and about six to 9 gamers had that standing throughout the play-off. That’s the loophole we’re exploring. Our legal professionals will need to have submitted the related paperwork to FIFA as effectively.”
NFF Common Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, additionally confirmed that the NFF has faulted the gamers’ swap.
“We’re ready. The Congolese guidelines say you can’t have twin citizenship or nationality,” Sanusi stated. “Wan-Bissaka has a European passport; a few of them have French passports, others Dutch passports. The principles are very clear, and we now have submitted our petition.
“FIFA guidelines say upon getting a passport of your nation, you’re eligible, and that’s the reason they had been cleared,” Sanusi defined. “However our concern is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them. It isn’t FIFA’s accountability to implement Congo’s home laws; FIFA acts based mostly on what’s submitted to it. What we’re saying is that the method was fraudulent.”
The event has boosted Nigeria’s hope of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. The nation had been condemned to lacking back-to-back World Cups after failing to qualify for the 2022 version in Qatar as effectively.
DR Congo, in the meantime, has appeared on the FIFA World Cup on one event in 1974 once they had been referred to as Zaire.