THE DR Congo goal Lionel Mpasi who was instrumental to their victory over Nigeria at the 2026 World Cup playoff was “ineligible” to play for the country according to Fifa documents.
It has now emerged that Fifa chiefs KNEW the French-born Lionel Mpasi had not completed the paperwork necessary for him to switch nationalities to the central African nation.
Mpasi, born in Meaux on the outskirts of Paris, played 12 France matches at various youth team levels in 2010 and 2011.
Fifa regulations allow players to switch nationalities and Mpasi made his DR Congo debut in 2022.
Nigeria’s claim was dismissed on what Fifa described as a “technicality”, with the world body adding: “committees are autonomous and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them.”
However, it has now been disclosed that the investigation discovered that DR Congo bosses had never completed the paperwork required for Mpasi to switch his representation.
Instead of sanctioning DR Congo for the violation, FIFA cleared the team on the pretense that Nigeria appeal was filed too late.
Mpasi was cleared to play against Jamaica and went on to star at the World Cup.
The news of the apparent cover-up brought an angry response from the North and Central American and Caribbean confederation Concacaf.
In a statement, Concacaf said: “Any concerns regarding player eligibility, particularly those that may affect the integrity of a competition or the interests of one of our member associations, need to be thoroughly reviewed and addressed.”
