The FIFA has rejected an appeal filed by the Nigeria Football Federation seeking to overturn the result of a decisive playoff against DR Congo national football team and claim a place in the intercontinental playoff for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to Argentine outlet Olé, FIFA upheld DR Congo’s victory and confirmed their qualification for the global playoff round.
The governing body dismissed Nigeria’s challenge regarding the eligibility of six dual-nationality players fielded by the Congolese side.
FIFA ruled that possession of a valid passport is the sole determining criterion for international eligibility, irrespective of domestic dual citizenship laws.
As a result, Nigeria are now officially out of contention for a place at the 2026 World Cup finals.
Nigeria’s Complaint
In its formal submission, Nigeria argued that DR Congo had fielded several dual-national players in the decisive playoff without completing the required legal procedures to switch international allegiance.
The Nigerian federation claimed that the players’ participation violated FIFA regulations and cast doubt over the legality of their involvement.
Nigeria also accused the Congolese federation of providing inaccurate information to FIFA regarding the players’ eligibility status, contending that the approvals granted were not fully compliant with governing rules, a factor they argued should have invalidated the match result.
Despite these claims, FIFA’s final ruling confirms DR Congo’s progression, closing the door on Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the 2026 tournament through the playoff route.
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