Nigeria has filed a complaint with FIFA alleging that the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) fielded ineligible players during the African playoff final for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed that it has submitted documents to world football’s governing body, claiming that several DR Congo players who recently switched international allegiance should not have been cleared to play.
DR Congo defeated Nigeria on penalties in the playoff final last month in Morocco, securing a place in the intercontinental qualification round for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
According to the NFF, the complaint focuses on players including Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe, who featured in the match after changing their international affiliation.
NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi said the federation believes FIFA was misled during the clearance process.
“Our contention is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them,” Sanusi said. “Congolese law does not allow dual nationality, yet some of the players hold European passports. We believe this constitutes a breach of FIFA regulations.”
The NFF said it submitted legal arguments and supporting documents to FIFA and is seeking a review of the players’ eligibility.
The Congolese Football Federation (FECOFA) rejected the allegations, dismissing the complaint as an attempt to overturn the result off the pitch.
“The World Cup must be played with dignity and confidence, not with legal manoeuvres,” FECOFA said in a statement shared on its official social media platforms.
FIFA statutes allow players to change national associations once, subject to approval by FIFA’s Players’ Status Committee. While FIFA regulations require players to hold a passport of the country they represent, they do not prohibit holding another nationality, though national laws may differ.
FIFA has not yet commented publicly on the complaint.
In previous cases, FIFA has imposed a range of sanctions for eligibility violations, including fines, point deductions and match forfeits. In the 2026 qualifiers, South Africa were handed a loss for fielding a suspended player, while Equatorial Guinea were docked points over the eligibility of captain Emilio Nsue, a decision later reversed without restoring the points.
Any ruling on Nigeria’s complaint could have implications for DR Congo’s place in the intercontinental qualification playoffs.