The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed it has launched an investigation into DR Congo’s use of allegedly ineligible players during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, a move that could reopen the Super Eagles’ path to the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
DR Congo eliminated Nigeria from the African play-offs in November following a 4–3 penalty shoot-out win in Morocco, ending the Super Eagles’ hopes of advancing to the FIFA intercontinental play-off.
The Congolese team has since been granted a place in the final of the intercontinental play-off tournament, where they are slated to meet the winner of the semi-final clash between New Caledonia and Jamaica.
However, their participation at that stage is now under scrutiny after the NFF raised concerns over the eligibility of several DR Congo players fielded during the African play-offs.
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Reports indicate that between six and nine players who switched national allegiance may not have fully complied with DR Congo’s legal requirements before representing the country.
While FIFA reportedly cleared the players based on valid DR Congo passports, the NFF alleges that the players failed to formally renounce their previous citizenships, in violation of the Central African nation’s constitution, which forbids dual nationality.
“NFF has done the needful,” said a member of the federation’s executive board. “Their constitution does not allow dual citizenship, and about six to nine players had that status during the play-off. That is the loophole we are exploring. Our lawyers must have submitted the relevant documents to FIFA as well.”
NFF General Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi also confirmed that the federation had challenged the players’ switch.
“We’re waiting. The Congolese rules say you cannot have dual citizenship or nationality,” Sanusi said. “Wan-Bissaka has a European passport; some of them have French passports, others Dutch passports. The rules are very clear, and we have submitted our petition.
“FIFA rules say once you have a passport of your country, you’re eligible, and that is why they were cleared. But our concern is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them. It is not FIFA’s responsibility to enforce Congo’s domestic regulations; FIFA acts based on what is submitted to it. What we are saying is that the process was fraudulent.”
The development has revived Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup, after the country missed out on the 2022 edition in Qatar, marking consecutive absences from football’s biggest stage.
DR Congo has qualified for the FIFA World Cup only once, in 1974, when the country was known as Zaire.
