A confidential document from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been made public, revealing the full details of Nigeria's formal protest to FIFA regarding the Democratic Republic of Congo's alleged use of ineligible players. The leaked letter, dated December 10, 2025, is addressed to FIFA's Disciplinary Committee and Legal & Compliance Division.
Core of Nigeria's FIFA Complaint
The NFF's protest centres on the decisive African playoff match for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, played on November 16, 2025, in Rabat, Morocco. DR Congo won that match on penalties, ending Nigeria's qualification hopes. The Nigerian federation argues that DR Congo fielded between six and nine players who were not legally eligible to represent the Central African nation.
The crux of the argument lies in the Democratic Republic of Congo's constitutional law, which strictly prohibits dual citizenship. The NFF contends that the players in question did not meet this fundamental nationality requirement at the time of the match. While FIFA may have granted clearance based on documentation provided by the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFA), Nigeria asserts that this documentation was potentially incomplete or misleading, failing to reflect the players' true legal status under Congolese domestic law.
NFF Alleges Breach of Sporting Integrity
In the letter, the NFF stresses that this situation creates a direct conflict between domestic law and international football regulations. The federation cites Articles 4 and 6 of the FIFA Statutes, which emphasise principles of fairness, transparency, and equal opportunity for all member associations. Nigeria's position is that the alleged actions undermine the integrity of the entire World Cup qualification competition.
The NFF has submitted a package of evidence to support its claim, which reportedly includes:
- Certified copies of relevant passports.
- Official documents outlining DR Congo's laws prohibiting dual nationality.
- FIFA's own player clearance notices.
- The official match sheet from the playoff in Rabat.
Sanctions Sought by the Nigeria Football Federation
The formal complaint concludes with specific requests for action from FIFA's governing bodies. The NFF is urging world football's authority to conduct a thorough investigation into the eligibility breaches. Should the allegations be proven, Nigeria has asked FIFA to take several decisive steps.
Firstly, the NFF requests that the match result be overturned and awarded to the Super Eagles, in accordance with FIFA's standard rules for fielding ineligible players. Furthermore, Nigeria is seeking the disqualification of DR Congo from the ongoing World Cup qualification process. The letter also suggests that disciplinary sanctions should be considered against FECOFA or the individual players involved.
The NFF closes its submission by reaffirming that the protest is made in good faith, with the primary aim of preserving the integrity and fairness of FIFA-sanctioned tournaments.
In a related context, it has been noted that Nigeria itself has previously navigated similar nationality issues. A scout linked to former coach Gernot Rohr referenced cases like Kingsley Ehizibue and Tobias Lawal, who were unable to switch allegiance to Nigeria due to dual nationality restrictions in the Netherlands and Austria, respectively. This highlights the complex legal landscape surrounding player eligibility in international football.
