Breaking: Nigeria’s World Cup hopes revived as DR Congo face player eligibility probe

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has launched a probe into the eligibility of several DR Congo players used during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, a move that could reopen Nigeria’s chance to qualify for the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

DR Congo knocked Nigeria out of the African play-offs in November after a 4–3 penalty shootout win in Morocco, ending the Super Eagles’ bid for the FIFA intercontinental play-off. DR Congo was later scheduled to face the winner of the semi-final between New Caledonia and Jamaica.

However, Nigeria has raised concerns that six to nine DR Congo players who switched national teams may not have met the country’s eligibility rules. While FIFA cleared the players because they held DR Congo passports, the NFF claims some of them did not formally give up their previous citizenships, which is required under Congolese law that does not allow dual nationality.

According to the Punch, “Their constitution does not allow dual citizenship, and about six to nine players had that status during the play-off. That is the loophole we are exploring. Our lawyers have submitted the relevant documents to FIFA.”

NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, added: “FIFA rules say once you have a passport of your country, you’re eligible, and that is why they were cleared. But our concern is that FIFA was misled. It is not FIFA’s job to enforce Congo’s domestic laws; FIFA acts on what is submitted to it. We are saying the process was fraudulent.”

The development has raised hopes that Nigeria could still qualify for the 2026 World Cup, after missing the 2022 tournament in Qatar. DR Congo has appeared at the FIFA World Cup only once, in 1974, when the country was called Zaire.