Tension is mounting among football fans across the country as Nigeria awaits a decisive ruling from world football’s governing body, FIFA, on a petition filed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) against the Democratic Republic of the Congo over alleged player ineligibility.
The controversy stems from Nigeria’s dramatic 3–4 penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo in Morocco last November during the final round of the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. The loss dashed the Super Eagles’ hopes of securing direct qualification for the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States of America, Canada and Mexico.
In the aftermath of the defeat, the NFF lodged a formal complaint with FIFA on December 15, 2025. The federation alleged that six Congolese players who had recently switched international allegiance were not eligible to participate in the decisive encounter.
FIFA has since reviewed the submission and is expected to deliver its verdict today, Monday, February 16, 2026. The outcome could significantly alter Nigeria’s World Cup trajectory.
Should the petition be upheld, Nigeria would be reinstated into the six-nation Intercontinental Play-off slated for next month, offering the Super Eagles another opportunity to fight for a place at the expanded 2026 global finals.
Speaking previously, NFF General Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi expressed confidence in the strength of the federation’s case. He maintained that the football body would not have pursued the complaint without solid grounds.
