Focus on AFCON: DR Congo Hit Back at NFF as Nigeria Takes World Cup Eligibility Case to FIFA

DR Congo players celebrate victory over Nigeria in the World Cup playoff as the NFF submits an eligibility complaint to FIFA. Image by NFF comms

 The Democratic Republic of Congo has urged Nigeria to turn its attention to the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations after the Nigeria Football Federation escalated a dispute over player eligibility to FIFA following their World Cup qualifying defeat.

Nigeria were eliminated from contention for the 2026 World Cup after losing a decisive playoff to DR Congo on penalties earlier this month, a result that immediately sparked controversy. Days after the match, the NFF submitted a formal petition to FIFA, alleging that DR Congo fielded players who were not eligible under national laws governing citizenship.

The complaint centres on claims that some Congolese players hold European passports despite provisions in the country’s constitution that restrict dual nationality. The NFF argues that this could amount to a breach of eligibility rules and has asked FIFA to investigate whether the players were properly registered for the match.

DR Congo’s football authorities have rejected the allegations and described Nigeria’s move as an attempt to overturn a result that was settled on the pitch. Speaking to local media, DR Congo’s director of football dismissed the complaint and called on Nigeria to move on from the defeat.

“Football should be decided on the field,” he said, adding that Nigeria should “focus on Afcon” rather than pursuing what he described as a legal distraction. He insisted that all Congolese players involved in the playoff were cleared to represent the country under FIFA regulations.

The Congolese camp maintains that FIFA eligibility is determined by sporting nationality, not by the internal constitutional arrangements of individual countries. Officials argue that all players were vetted and approved by FIFA long before the playoff took place, and that Nigeria had raised no objections prior to or during the match.

The response from Kinshasa has been echoed by Congolese players and officials, some of whom have accused Nigeria of being unwilling to accept defeat. In strongly worded comments, they warned against what they called “backdoor tactics” and urged the focus to remain on preparations for upcoming competitions.

Nigeria, however, insists that its petition is grounded in principle rather than frustration. NFF officials say the federation has a responsibility to ensure that FIFA’s rules are applied consistently and transparently. They argue that if misleading or incomplete information was provided during the player registration process, FIFA is obliged to review the matter regardless of when the issue was raised.

In a statement, the NFF stressed that it respects DR Congo as an opponent but believes the questions surrounding nationality and eligibility are serious enough to warrant clarification at the highest level of the game. The federation has not called for an automatic reversal of the result but wants FIFA to determine whether any regulations were breached.

The case now rests with FIFA, which has acknowledged receipt of the complaint and is understood to be reviewing the documents submitted by Nigeria. No timeline has been given for a decision, and FIFA has declined to comment publicly while the review is ongoing.

The dispute has added to Nigeria’s recent frustrations on the international stage. Failure to qualify for the World Cup would be a major blow for one of Africa’s most prominent footballing nations, increasing pressure on administrators and coaches alike. Attention is now expected to shift to the Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria will be seeking to reassert itself as a continental force.

For DR Congo, the focus remains on defending their place in the World Cup qualification process. Officials are confident the complaint will not alter the outcome, insisting the team earned its progress fairly.

Until FIFA delivers a ruling, the controversy is likely to linger, highlighting once again the complex intersection of football, law and national identity in the modern game.