- DR Congo Warns NFF Over FIFA Petition on Player Eligibility
- NFF questioned Congolese players’ citizenship status under FIFA eligibility rDR Congo Warns NFF Over FIFA Petition on Player Eligibilityules.
- DR Congo insisted qualification must be decided strictly on the pitch.
The Democratic Republic of Congo issued a stern warning to the Nigeria Football Federation after Nigeria filed a petition with FIFA over alleged use of ineligible players during their 2026 World Cup playoff clash.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that in a sharp reaction posted on the national team’s official 𝕏 account, DR Congo accused Nigeria of attempting to secure a World Cup playoff spot through administrative means rather than sporting performance.
“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 post read.
Nigeria lost the November playoff encounter to DR Congo on penalties but later confirmed it had formally written to FIFA, citing possible violations of player eligibility rules.
The NFF alleged that some Congolese players who recently switched national allegiance may not have fully complied with FIFA regulations governing nationality changes.
Central to Nigeria’s petition is the issue of dual citizenship, which Congolese law does not recognise. The NFF argued that players holding European passports, including French, Dutch and British documents, may have breached eligibility requirements.
Speaking on the matter, NFF Secretary General, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said FIFA initially cleared the players based on documents submitted by the DR Congo Football Federation.
Sanusi said, “We’re waiting. The Congolese rules say you cannot have dual citizenship or nationality. Wan-Bissaka has a European passport, and there are others with French and Dutch passports.
“The rules are very clear, and we have submitted our petition.”
He added that Nigeria’s action was not aimed at discrediting FIFA but at ensuring the football body was not misled during the clearance process.
“FIFA goes by its own regulations, and it was on the basis of what was submitted to FIFA that they cleared them. What we are saying is that it was fraudulent,” Sanusi said.
