23 Days to W/Cup Playoff: FIFA Yet to Rule on NFF Petition Against DR Congo

 

With just 23 days to the FIFA Intercontinental Playoff and fewer than 100 days to the kick-off of the 2026 World Cup, FIFA has yet to issue a decision on the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) petition against DR Congo over alleged fielding of ineligible players during the African qualification playoff.

 

As host nations intensify preparations—fine-tuning logistics, infrastructure and commercial arrangements—uncertainty continues to trail part of the qualification process in Africa, where the eligibility dispute between Nigeria and DR Congo remains unresolved.

 

The urgency surrounding the matter has heightened, with the Intercontinental Playoffs scheduled for late March in Mexico set to determine the final teams that will complete the World Cup lineup.

 

DR Congo is currently listed as Africa’s representative following their penalty shootout victory over Nigeria in the CAF qualification playoff final last November.

 

However, Nigeria’s bid to return to the qualification race rests on the outcome of the petition, which has since moved from the pitch to FIFA’s legal and administrative processes.

 

The NFF maintains that some DR Congo players allegedly failed to fully comply with nationality switch regulations and other domestic legal requirements, potentially breaching FIFA eligibility statutes.

 

Despite the gravity of the claims—and the fast-approaching playoff date—FIFA has yet to publicly respond to the petition, leaving Nigeria’s World Cup hopes hanging in the balance.