Nigeria is exploring legal and administrative options, including potentially seeking compensation from FIFA, following fresh revelations that the football governing body’s legal officials had identified an eligibility issue involving DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi during the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has said the development vindicates Nigeria’s earlier complaint over the eligibility of DR Congo players.
Despite the reported finding, FIFA did not impose disciplinary measures on DR Congo, who subsequently defeated Jamaica in the intercontinental play-off to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
An NSC official told ESPN that Nigeria could consider seeking compensation for the financial and sporting consequences of missing the tournament.
“Nothing has been decided yet, but we will seriously consider seeking compensation from FIFA for all of the economic losses this has cost Nigeria,” the official said.
The official listed potential losses including revenue that the Super Eagles and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) could have generated from World Cup participation, as well as player exposure, potential transfers, sponsorship revenue and wider economic benefits.
“We are exploring all our options as a country and nothing is off the table,” the official added.
Nigeria had lodged a complaint with FIFA after DR Congo eliminated the Super Eagles in the African play-off final in November, winning 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time.
The NFF’s original complaint raised concerns about the eligibility of several DR Congo players. However, the latest revelations centre on Mpasi, who reportedly had not completed a change of association from France to DR Congo.
According to documents reviewed by The New York Times, FIFA’s legal officials considered a number of possible sanctions, including awarding Nigeria the match, imposing a financial penalty on DR Congo or replacing the Congolese side with Nigeria in the subsequent play-off against Jamaica.
The case was ultimately dismissed on a technicality, according to the report.
The NSC is now calling for FIFA to reopen the matter, arguing that the newly revealed information raises questions beyond whether Nigeria’s initial complaint was correctly filed.
“Nigeria has been vindicated,” the official said. “When we said we had written a petition to FIFA, people accused us of all sorts of things. I think this has proven that we were correct that DRC fielded ineligible players.”
The official also argued that the reported eligibility breach should be addressed irrespective of when Nigeria’s complaint was submitted.
“Nigeria will be seeking for FIFA to review the case because the case is about fraud and fraud does not have a time limit for punishment,” the official said.
The revelations have generated reactions among Nigerian football supporters, with some questioning FIFA’s handling of the eligibility issue and the NFF’s response.
The renewed push by Nigerian authorities could now lead to further scrutiny of FIFA’s handling of the DR Congo case, particularly over how an eligibility concern reportedly identified by its own legal officials was ultimately dismissed.
For now, Nigeria’s position remains that it is considering its options, including a possible request for a review of the case and potential compensation for losses associated with missing the 2026 World Cup.
