World Cup Eligibility Saga: No Update From FIFA, Says NFF

The eagerly anticipated decision in the eligibility dispute between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Congolese Football Association may not be imminent, as the NFF has stated it has received no update on the matter from FIFA, world football’s governing body, to date.

Speculation was rife on social media on Monday night and into Tuesday morning that FIFA had made a decision on the eligibility dispute, but the NFF has clarified that no verdict has yet been delivered.

Dr Ademola Olajire, the NFF’s Director of Communication, responding to our correspondent’s enquiry, explicitly stated the contrary, suggesting people were simply amusing themselves with fabricated stories.

“No update at all. People are simply having their own fun with different stories created in their own minds,” Olajire said.

Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagles, were eliminated by DR Congo on penalties last November in the final round of the African play-offs, ending their hopes for the 2026 FIFA World Cup intercontinental play-offs.

Following this defeat, the NFF formally lodged a complaint with FIFA, challenging the eligibility of several Congolese players.

The crux of the NFF’s petition revolves around the Democratic Republic of Congo’s national laws, which generally restrict dual citizenship for adults.

The federation raised concerns that certain DR Congo players, known as the Leopards, may hold European passports while representing their national team, potentially contravening Congolese legal statutes.

While neither the FIFA Council nor its ethics committee has officially taken a stand on the matter, Nigerian stakeholders are keenly awaiting formal communication from Zurich, with significant implications for both federations and 2026 World Cup qualification.