FIFA to Announce Decision on Nigeria's Appeal Against DR Congo for World Cup Eligibility

FIFA is set to deliver its decision regarding Nigeria's appeal against DR Congo on Monday, February 16.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) lodged a formal complaint to FIFA on December 15, 2025, questioning the eligibility of certain players. The federation claims that six players from the DR Congo had recently switched their international allegiance and were ineligible for the match in question.

The petition was initiated after Nigeria faced a significant setback in their qualification efforts in November 2025, where they lost to DR Congo in a tense penalty shootout, concluding with a score of 4–3 in the final African playoff.

In a recent statement, the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, expressed confidence in their position, stating, “We have a good case.”

He further mentioned, “We don’t engage in trivial matters. We are convinced that we have a solid case, and we eagerly await FIFA’s verdict on our issues.”

Should FIFA rule in favor of Nigeria, the team would gain access to participate in the upcoming Intercontinental Play-Off scheduled for March in Mexico.

Achieving a high placement in this tournament would secure Nigeria one of the remaining slots available for Africa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.