The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has taken a dramatic step in its bid to revive the Super Eagles' 2026 FIFA World Cup dreams, filing an official petition to the world governing body over the eligibility of players for the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Core of the NFF's Petition to FIFA
NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, confirmed the federation's action, alleging that DR Congo deceived FIFA into clearing several foreign-born players to represent their national team, the Leopards. This controversy stems from Nigeria's painful exit from the CAF World Cup play-offs, where they lost to DR Congo in a tense penalty shootout after a 4-1 victory over Gabon.
The Nigerian petition specifically challenges the eligibility of nine DR Congo players. Sanusi explained the NFF's position, stating that while FIFA rules grant eligibility based on passport possession, the federation believes the process was tainted. "FIFA were deceived into clearing those players because it is not FIFA’s responsibility to interpret or enforce domestic citizenship laws," Sanusi was quoted as saying.
The NFF argues that according to Congolese law, dual nationality is not recognized. Children born abroad to Congolese parents may hold dual citizenship only until age 21, after which they must renounce one. The federation contends that FIFA was not made properly aware of these domestic regulations during the clearance process.
Billions in World Cup Prize Money at Stake
The petition is not merely about sporting pride; enormous financial incentives are involved. FIFA has announced a staggering $655 million prize fund for the 2026 World Cup, a 50% increase from the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Every qualified team will receive a significant preparation fund and guaranteed prize money. Specifically, each team that qualifies for the tournament will receive $9 million (approximately N13 billion) just for participating. Teams that fail to progress from the group stage still get this amount.
The rewards escalate sharply for successful teams: Round of 16 exits fetch $15 million, quarter-finalists get $19 million, fourth place receives $27 million, third place gets $29 million, runners-up earn $33 million, and the champion will pocket a breathtaking $50 million. Additionally, each participating nation gets $1.5 million (about N2.2 billion) in preparation costs.
Doubts and Counterarguments on Nigeria's Case
Despite the NFF's confident move, some analysts question the strength of Nigeria's legal position. Social commentator Japhet Omojuwa suggested that DR Congo likely met FIFA's explicit requirements. "Congolese rules say a citizen cannot have a dual passport. Let's take it that this is true. It's got nothing to do with FIFA rules. You can only petition FIFA based on FIFA rules," he argued.
The outcome now rests with FIFA's disciplinary committee. If the petition succeeds, Nigeria could potentially be reinstated in the qualification pathway, facing the winner of the Jamaica vs. New Caledonia match in the intercontinental play-offs for a final spot at the 2026 World Cup.
The Super Eagles' journey to this point was fraught. They missed automatic qualification from CAF Group C, which was won by South Africa. A 4-0 victory over Benin on the final day secured their place in the CAF play-offs in Morocco, leading to the fateful clash with DR Congo.
As the football world awaits FIFA's decision, the stakes for Nigerian football—both on the pitch and in financial terms—have never been higher.
