Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have received a significant boost following an eligibility investigation involving the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The development follows a formal complaint lodged by the Nigeria Football Federation questioning the eligibility of several DR Congo players who featured in the decisive play-off match that knocked Nigeria out of the qualification race.
According to Punch, the NFF raised concerns over six and nine DR Congo players who switched international allegiance before representing the country.
While FIFA reportedly cleared the players based on possession of Congolese passports, Nigeria’s petition centres on the claim that the players may have failed to comply with DR Congo’s constitutional requirement prohibiting dual nationality.
Punch reported that DR Congo’s constitution mandates citizens who acquire Congolese nationality to renounce any previous citizenship.
The NFF argues that if the players did not complete this process, their eligibility to represent the country could be invalid under domestic law, even if FIFA documentation requirements were met.
An official of the NFF was quoted as saying that the federation identified what it considers a loophole in the eligibility process and has since submitted relevant documents to FIFA for review.
The federation believes that if the allegations are upheld, sanctions could follow, potentially affecting DR Congo’s qualification status.
The issue is particularly significant because DR Congo had eliminated Nigeria in a penalty shootout during the African play-off stage and were subsequently handed a direct place in the final round of the intercontinental play-offs.
A reversal or sanction could reopen Nigeria’s path to qualification.
Punch further reported that the NFF’s General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, confirmed the federation’s position, stressing that compliance with local nationality laws is a critical element that cannot be ignored.
He suggested that failure to renounce previous citizenships could amount to a fraudulent representation.
The report noted that Nigeria’s football community has reacted with renewed optimism, especially given the pain of missing the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Many see the probe as a possible second chance for the Super Eagles to keep their World Cup dream alive.
DR Congo, who have only qualified for the World Cup once in their history, in 1974 under the name Zaire, are yet to officially respond to the allegations as the matter awaits FIFA’s determination.
