2026 World Cup: Nigeria Has “Strong” Case Against DR Congo Over Player Eligibility

A crucial off-field battle is now determining the fate of Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign. Following Nigeria’s playoff defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has publicly asserted that Nigeria has a “strong and very tight” case before FIFA regarding the eligibility of several Congolese players.

Dikko’s statements, made during an interview with Arise Television, aim to clarify that the challenge is not an act of desperation after a loss but the result of careful monitoring that began weeks before the decisive match.

The NSC and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) noted that FIFA clearance for these players was still pending at the time of the squad announcement, a potential breach of regulations.

“For us, the critical question is: what gave them the confidence to name a player of another nationality in their official squad two weeks before a match, when that player was not yet eligible?” Dikko stated.

“Their clearance came only at the last possible moment, which intensified our scrutiny after the qualifiers.”

Dikko suggested that DR Congo may have provided inaccurate information to FIFA to expedite the clearance process. “Our review, with international legal experts, indicates there are suspicions of misrepresentation to FIFA to obtain those clearances,” he explained.

Dikko emphasized that a passport must be issued strictly in accordance with a nation’s laws for a player’s switch to be legitimate. “If the passport is not issued according to the law of that country, it affects everything and undermines the integrity of the process,” he warned.

Nigeria is drawing direct parallels to a recent FIFA ruling where South Africa was deducted three points in World Cup qualifying for fielding an ineligible player. This precedent underscores the strictness of FIFA’s eligibility rules.

Dikko stressed that Nigeria’s appeal is framed as a matter of principle and rule enforcement, not bitterness over the defeat. “We are not sore losers,” he asserted. “It is simply about the rules of the game. We lost on the pitch, but if the opponent did not follow the laws of the game, then that result cannot stand.”

FIFA is now reviewing Nigeria’s complaint. The global football governing body will examine the documentation surrounding the players’ nationality switch and clearance.

Potential outcomes could range from dismissing the case to imposing sanctions on DR Congo, which could include forfeiting the playoff match—a decision that would reinstate Nigeria’s World Cup qualification hopes.