World football governing body FIFA has yet to make a statement on Nigeria’s protest against DR Congo alleging that they fielded ineligible players in the world cup qualifiers playoff final, which they won on penalties.
Reports went viral last week that FIFA has dismissed the petition from Nigeria on the grounds that it lacks merits, but that report is wide off the mark according to a spokesman of the body.
In a post on X formerly known as Twitter, Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwana quoted the spokesman of the apex football body saying there is yet no decision on the petition.
“For anyone wondering about the NFF’s protest, over the eligibility of the players DR Congo used for the FIFA World Cup 2026 playoffs, a FIFA spokesperson told me, in Rabat, on Thursday, that there is no official pronouncement on the matter yet. The person promised to get me an official word, on the state of the matter. Once I have it, it’ll be published here”, he said in his handle.
Nigeria claim the players are ineligible to play for DR Congo, because they still hold citizenship of other countries which is in violation of the constitution of DR Congo, that doesn’t recognise dual citizenship.
