DR Congo Accuses Nigeria Of ‘Backdoor’ Tactics In Player Passport Dispute

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has issued a defiant response to Nigeria’s official protest to FIFA, accusing the Super Eagles of trying to qualify for the 2026 World Cup through the back door after failing to win on the pitch.

This follows the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) formal complaint to world football’s governing body, challenging the eligibility of several DRC players used during a decisive World Cup qualifying playoff last month.

In November, DR Congo defeated Nigeria 4-3 on penalties in the final of the African playoff in Morocco.

This victory secured DR Congo a coveted spot in the upcoming FIFA intercontinental playoffs, where they were scheduled to face the winner of a semi-final between New Caledonia and Jamaica for a place at the 2026 tournament.

The NFF’s protest centres on 6 to 9 DR Congo players who recently switched their international allegiance to represent the Central African nation.

Nigeria contends that these players, including Aaron Wan-Bissaka, hold European passports (French, Dutch, etc.) in violation of the Congolese constitution, which does not permit dual nationality.

NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, stated that while FIFA cleared the players based on their possession of valid Congolese passports, the federation believes the process was “fraudulent” as FIFA does not enforce a nation’s domestic citizenship laws.

In a post on DR Congo’s national team X account on Wednesday, the team dismissed the allegations, saying, “If you can’t win on the pitch, don’t try to win from the back door. The World Cup must be played with dignity and confidence not with legal tricks. Bring it on”. The federation also shared images from FIFA’s official “Change of Association” platform, showing the approved switch for their players.

FIFA is investigating the complaint, with a decision expected before the intercontinental playoffs in March 2026. If FIFA rules in Nigeria’s favour, the Super Eagles could be reinstated and take DR Congo’s place in the final playoff match, reviving their hopes of reaching a first World Cup since 2018.