Nigeria is pursuing a last-ditch effort to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup, having filed a formal protest with FIFA alleging that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) deployed ineligible players in their crucial African playoff final. The outcome of this complaint could significantly alter the course of the qualifying process for the tri-nation tournament hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
In the contentious match held last month in Morocco, DR Congo emerged victorious over Nigeria's Super Eagles on penalties, securing their place in the intercontinental playoff scheduled for March. This playoff will determine the final two qualifying spots for the World Cup.
The heart of Nigeria's allegation lies in the international eligibility of several DR Congo players who recently switched their allegiance. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) contends that players such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe, who participated in the final, should not have been permitted to play due to DR Congo's legal restrictions on dual citizenship.
Mohammed Sanusi, the NFF general secretary, asserted, "Our contention is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them. The Congolese rule says you cannot have dual nationality, but some of their players have European and French passports. There is what we consider to be a breach of [FIFA's] regulations. We are saying it was fraudulent."
The NFF has submitted supporting documentation and legal arguments to FIFA, hoping to overturn the result. However, the Congolese Football Federation (Fecofa) has vehemently rejected the NFF's challenge, branding the petition as an attempt to "win via the back door" and accusing Nigeria of poor sportsmanship. A post on the Leopards' official social media stated, "The World Cup must be played with dignity and confidence. Not with lawyers' tricks," and described Nigeria as "bad losers."
FIFA's statutes outline the conditions under which a player may change their national association. A player can request a change only once and must obtain approval from FIFA's Players' Status Committee. While FIFA allows players to hold multiple passports, Congolese law does not permit dual citizenship.
Possible outcomes for Nigeria's protest include:
1. Dismissal: FIFA may find the NFF's evidence insufficient, leaving DR Congo's qualification intact.
2. Investigation and administrative sanction: FIFA could investigate and impose sanctions, such as fines or warnings, without altering the match result.
3. Sporting sanctions: In severe cases, FIFA or the Confederation of African Football could order a forfeit, award the match to Nigeria, or deduct points.
Previous instances, such as FIFA deducting points from Equatorial Guinea for fielding an ineligible player, highlight the potential consequences of such protests. As Nigeria awaits FIFA's decision, the footballing world watches to see if their World Cup dreams will be revitalized.
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