Nigeria stayed outside World Cup 2026 in a penalty shootout defeat against the Democratic Republic of Congo but the desktop can save it. The association presented a formal protest before the Fifa because it ensures that the opponent has used ineligible players during the African playoffs.
After equalizing 1 to 1, Congo eliminated Nigeria by a 4-3 victory in twelve shots in a game in Rabat, Morocco. This gave the winner access to the intercontinental repechage.
According to the Nigerian leadership, there were between six and nine footballersmany with European passports (like West Ham’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Sunderland’s Masuaku), who did not meet the admission requirements. In particular, they did not officially renounce their previous citizenship, which violates the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which prohibits dual citizenship.
Nigeria argues that FIFA originally approved these players based on documentation provided by DR Congo, but that process was “fraudulent” or incomplete.
The Secretary General of the Federation of Nigeria, Mohammed Sanusiconfirmed the presentation of the petition and emphasized that the rules in this regard were clear.
If FIFA rules in Nigeria’s favor, DR Congo could face sanctions such as loss of games or even disqualification, which would mean the Super Eagles’ entry into the intercontinental playoffs.
How are the playoffs? On Thursday, March 26, Jamaica and New Caledonia will face each other in the semifinals at the Akron Stadium in Chivas de Guadalajara. The winner will play on Tuesday, March 31, at the same stadium for a ticket to the 2026 World Cup, so far against the Democratic Republic of Congo. Whoever leaves this series gets into the group Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia.
Of course, any FIFA sanction can be appealed, first to the company’s court and then to the CAS. The short time until the repechage race benefits the Congo.
During the 2018 World Cup qualification, Bolivia used footballer Nelson Cabrera in the games against Chile and Peru. There was initially a lawsuit from the Chilean ANFP because the player was born in Paraguay and did not have the five years of residency required by that country’s law for naturalization.
FIFA agreed with Chile, which, like Peru, which eventually beat La Roja and entered the competition, added points by exploiting a mistake caught by another association.
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