The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has initiated an appeal against a ruling by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee which dismissed its protest concerning the eligibility of some players fielded by the Democratic Republic of the Congo national football team during the 2026 World Cup playoff in Rabat, Morocco.
Nigeria crashed out of the qualification race after losing 4-3 on penalties to the Congolese side in the decisive encounter held in November last year.
Subsequently, the football body questioned the documentation of certain DR Congo players, alleging irregularities in the issuance of passports that enabled them to feature in the match.
After months of review, FIFA rejected Nigeria’s petition, maintaining that there was no sufficient basis to uphold the complaint.
Responding to the development, NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, disclosed that the federation has formally activated the appeal process in line with established procedures.
He stated that although the federation had received the committee’s decision, it was dissatisfied with the outcome and remained committed to pursuing the matter to its logical conclusion.
Meanwhile, DR Congo has shifted focus to the intercontinental playoff slated for later this month, having already unveiled its squad for the crucial fixture.
The Congolese team is billed to face the winner between the Jamaica national football team and the New Caledonia national football team, with the successful side claiming one of the remaining slots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In a related development, FIFA has imposed sanctions on both Nigeria and DR Congo over incidents involving supporters during the playoff clash.
According to the disciplinary report, the NFF was fined 1,000 Swiss francs after Nigerian fans were found guilty of throwing objects onto the pitch, contrary to provisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
On its part, the Congolese Football Association received a fine of 5,000 Swiss francs for the use of laser pointers by its supporters during the match, an action deemed a violation of the code.
FIFA clarified that the penalties were based on the specific circumstances of each case and noted that the decisions remain subject to further appeal.
