The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) says it has commenced the process of appealing the decision of FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee over its protest against the alleged use of ineligible players by DR Congo during the 2026 FIFA World Cup African play-off final played last November in Morocco,
After months of waiting, the NFF confirmed on Tuesday that the world football governing body’s committee rejected its petition against DR Congo.
Nigeria lost the match 4-3 on penalties but subsequently challenged the eligibility of some players in the Congolese squad, citing alleged irregularities in the issuance of passports that qualified a number of players for the play-off.
The NFF is now seeking the disqualification of DR Congo from the intercontinental play-off, with just 10 days to the tournament in Mexico.
‘We have received the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee on our petition, but we are not satisfied with the decision, which rejected our petition. I want to assure Nigerians that the NFF has immediately commenced the process of appealing the decision’, NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said in a statement on Tuesday.
DR Congo have been drawn to face the winner of the clash between Jamaica and New Caledonia, with a place at the 2026 World Cup at stake.
The Congolese will head to Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico, where they will join five other countries vying for the final two slots at the expanded World Cup, scheduled to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July 2026.
Meanwhile, DR Congo coach Sébastien Desabre said his team is motivated ahead of the intercontinental play-off, adding that their minimum target is to replicate the performance that saw them overcome Nigeria in the African play-off final last November.
