KEY POINTS

• FIFA dismissed NFF’s petition challenging DR Congo players’ eligibility.
• Nigeria alleged passport irregularities but failed to prove the case.
• NFF has appealed the decision as DR Congo advances in qualification.

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has lost its petition against the Democratic Republic of Congo Football Federation (DRC) regarding the eligibility of certain players fielded during a 2026 FIFA World Cup play-off match.

The NFF had raised concerns over the authenticity of passports used by some members of the Congolese squad, alleging possible irregularities in their documentation. The petition sought to challenge the legitimacy of those players’ participation in the crucial fixture.

FIFA Dismisses Claims

However, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee dismissed the claims, ruling against the NFF’s protest. Reacting to the verdict, NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome.

“We have received the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee on our petition, but we are not satisfied with the decision, which rejected our petition,” Sanusi said, confirming that the federation has moved to appeal the ruling.

Meanwhile, the DRC remains on course in the qualification process and is set to face the winner of the tie between Jamaica and New Caledonia, with a coveted spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup still up for grabs.