How Nigeria can qualify for World Cup 2026 as FIFA 'investigate' DR Congo complaint | OneFootball

Super Eagles have challenged DR Congo’s use of several dual nationality players during World Cup qualification

Nigeria have filed a complaint to FIFA over DR Congo in hope of reviving their bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

However, the Leopards’ hopes of taking part in the aforementioned play-offs may be in doubt as their use of several dual nationality players during World Cup qualification has been challenged by Nigeria.

DR Congo’s path for the World Cup has been revealed

AFP via Getty Images

According to reports, between six to nine players used by DR Congo during the qualification campaign may not have completed the process of giving up their European passports in line with Congolese law before representing the country.

"The Congolese rules say you cannot have dual nationality," Nigerian Football Federation general secretary Mohammed Sanusi told reporters on Tuesday.

"There are so many of them that have European passports, some of them French passports, some of them Dutch passports. The rules are very clear. We cannot say anything now but we have submitted our protest to FIFA.

"There are players that got theirs in just three months. So there is to us, what is considered as a breach of the regulation. That is why took that decision."

As per FIFA regulations, players are only required to hold the passports of the representative country in order to be cleared to play for that country.

"The FIFA rules are different from DR Congo rules, that is why FIFA cleared them," Sanusi added. "FIFA Regulations say once you have the passport of your country, you are eligible. As far as we are concerned, they are eligible that is why they are cleared by FIFA.

The rules are very clear. We cannot say anything now but we have submitted our protest to FIFA

Mohammed Sanusi

"But our contention is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them because it is not the responsibility of FIFA to make sure that the regulations of Congo are abided by.

“FIFA goes by its own regulations, and it was on the basis of what was presented to FIFA that they cleared them. But we are saying that it was fraudulent."

ESPN have since stated that while FIFA are yet to respond to the complaint, they are investigating the issue and a decision is expected before the inter-confederation play-offs in March.

If Nigeria’s appeal is successful they will likely replace DR Congo in the play-offs, leaving them one win away from qualifying for the World Cup and joining Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia in Group K.

In a fresh twist, DR Congo have taken to X, formerly Twitter, and responded to Nigeria.

A post reads: “If you can't win on the pitch don't try to win from the back door. The World Cup has to be played with dignity and confidence. Not with lawyers tricks. Bring it on.”