NFF Says No FIFA Decision on DRC Ineligible Players Protest

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has categorically denied widespread reports suggesting FIFA has issued a ruling on Nigeria’s formal protest against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) regarding player eligibility. The federation labelled all such claims as false, confirming it has received no communication from world football’s governing body on the matter.

The dispute originates from Nigeria’s dramatic elimination by DR Congo in the final round of African qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Last November, the Super Eagles lost a penalty shootout in Lubumbashi after a 1-1 aggregate draw, ending their hopes of advancing to the intercontinental play-offs. In the aftermath, the NFF lodged a formal complaint with FIFA. The protest challenged the eligibility of certain players in the Congolese squad, known as the Leopards, citing Congolese national law that does not recognise dual citizenship. Nigeria’s argument alleged that some players holding European passports were ineligible to represent DR Congo under Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) regulations.

Ademola Olajire, NFF Director of Communications, directly addressed the rumours in a statement to 234Sports. “There is no decision from FIFA at this time. Any claims that a ruling has been made are false,” Olajire stated. “FIFA has not communicated any verdict to the NFF or the Congolese federation.” His comment assuaged concerns that a definitive outcome had been reached in the case, which had been the subject of intense speculation across African media.

The protest highlighted a common point of contention in international football: the intersection of national laws and FIFA’s eligibility statutes, which generally permit players with multiple nationalities to switch associations under specific conditions. Nigeria’s case rested on the premise that DR Congo’s domestic legal stance should invalidate the European passports held by some squad members, potentially breaching the requirement for a player to have a “clear connection” to a country through birth, ancestry, or residency.

This incident underscores the procedural nature of disputes handled by FIFA’s governance bodies. While complaints are frequently lodged following tightly contested qualifiers, formal judgments are only communicated through official channels to the involved associations. The NFF’s swift denial aims to prevent misinformation from overshadowing the ongoing resolution process.

For both federations, the final decision from FIFA remains pending. The outcome will determine the official status of DR Congo’s qualification advancement and Nigeria’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. Pending FIFA’s examination, the result of the November playoff stands, with DR Congo progressing in the African zone and Nigeria’s World Cup hopes concluded. Both teams now await the formal conclusion of this administrative case.