W’Cup playoffs: Hope for Nigeria as NFF petitions FIFA, says DRC used ‘ineligible players’

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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) says a petition has been submitted to FIFA against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) for allegedly fielding ineligible players during the World Cup playoffs.

Speaking with journalists at an event on Tuesday, Mohammed Sanusi, NFF general secretary, accused the Congolese FA of deceiving FIFA into clearing players for its national team despite their status contravening the country’s citizenship laws.

Sanusi said DR Congo laws established that “you cannot have dual nationality”, adding that several members of the Leopards squad at the playoffs have both European and Congolese passports.He said the DR Congo FA was “fraudulent” in its registration of the players, and the NFF has submitted a petition to FIFA to investigate the matter.

“FIFA cleared the players because FIFA’s eligibility rule is different from DR Congo’s rule. FIFA regulations say that once you have the passport of your country, you are eligible,” Sanusi said.

“But our contention is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them. Because it is not the responsibility of FIFA to ensure that the regulations of DR Congo are being abided by. It was on the basis of what was presented to FIFA that the players were cleared. But we are saying it was fraudulent.”

DR Congo defeated the Super Eagles 4-3 on penalties in the final of the African playoffs for the 2026 World Cup. Thecable