FIFA has dismissed a protest lodged by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) challenging the eligibility of several players fielded by the DR Congo national football team during their decisive 2026 World Cup African play-off clash with Nigeria.
According to a report by veteran football journalist Kunle Solaja, the world football governing body rejected the complaint on procedural grounds, meaning the case was never formally reviewed by FIFA’s judicial bodies.
Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup ended after the team lost to DR Congo on penalties following a tense encounter.
The match, played in Rabat, Morocco on November 16, 2025, finished 1–1 after extra time before the Congolese side triumphed 4–3 in the penalty shootout.
Following the defeat, the NFF filed a protest accusing DR Congo of fielding players with questionable passport documentation, alleging irregularities in the process that allowed them to participate in the crucial fixture.
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However, citing information from an insider within FIFA, Solaja reported that the protest failed to comply with the strict procedures outlined in Article 8 of the Regulations Governing the Preliminary Competition for the 2026 World Cup.
Under the rules, any protest regarding the eligibility of players must:
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Be communicated to the match commissioner within two hours after the match ends.
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Be followed by a formal written complaint within 24 hours.
But the NFF submitted its complaint on November 28, 2025, almost two weeks after the match, far beyond the permitted timeframe.
The source further revealed another major procedural lapse: the required protest fee of 1,000 Swiss francs was not paid.
Because of these omissions, the case was never officially processed by FIFA’s disciplinary or judicial committees.
The appeal that was widely reported was never actually entertained by the FIFA judicial authorities because it did not meet the procedural requirements,” the source reportedly said.
FIFA formally notified the NFF of the situation on March 9, 2026, though public confirmation of the development only emerged days later.
With the protest dismissed, DR Congo’s qualification for the tournament remains intact.
The decision officially ends Nigeria’s campaign to reach the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by:
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United States
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Canada
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Mexico
The 2026 edition will be the first World Cup expanded to 48 teams, offering more qualification opportunities globally.
However, the procedural failure in Nigeria’s protest means the Super Eagles will not be part of the tournament.
