2026 World Cup: FIFA rejects NFF petition against DR Congo

FIFA has dismissed the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) petition challenging the eligibility of certain players used by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) in their 2026 FIFA World Cup play-off match against the Super Eagles in Rabat, Morocco, last November.

Nigeria lost the encounter 4-3 on penalties after both teams were tied at 1-1 following regulation and extra time, prompting the NFF to lodge a formal protest alleging irregularities in the issuance of passports that qualified some DR Congo players for the fixture.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee rejected the petition, upholding DR Congo’s qualification to the next stage of the inter-confederation play-offs.

NFF General Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi confirmed the decision on Tuesday and announced that the federation has immediately begun the process of appealing the ruling.

“We have received the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee on our petition, but we are not satisfied with the decision, which rejected our petition,” Sanusi said. “I want to assure Nigerians that the NFF has immediately commenced the process of appealing the decision.”

The appeal is now underway as Nigeria seeks to challenge FIFA’s verdict and potentially revisit the outcome of the play-off tie.

DR Congo, having progressed past Nigeria, are now drawn against the winner of the play-off between Jamaica and New Caledonia for one of the final spots at the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

The Congolese team will travel to Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico to compete in the inter-confederation play-offs alongside five other nations vying for the remaining two qualification places.