DR Congo share players’ eligibility status, warn Nigeria against ‘backdoor W’Cup qualification’
DR Congo Warns Nigeria, Super Eagles Against “Backdoor” 2026 World Cup Qualification
The Football Federation of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has issued a strong warning to Nigeria and the Super Eagles, cautioning against what it described as an attempt to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup through the “backdoor.”
The warning follows a petition reportedly submitted by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to FIFA, protesting the eligibility of several Congolese players fielded during a recent play-off clash in Morocco.
The dramatic encounter ended in a 4–3 penalty shoot-out victory for DR Congo, a result that dashed Nigeria’s hopes of progressing to the FIFA Intercontinental Play-off.
DR Congo Reacts to NFF Petition
Following the match, DR Congo secured a bye into the final of the intercontinental play-off tournament, where they are set to face the winner of the semi-final between New Caledonia and Jamaica.
However, reports have surfaced alleging that between six and nine Congolese players who switched national allegiance may not have fully complied with eligibility requirements under Congolese law before representing the country.
While FIFA reportedly cleared the players after confirming they held valid DR Congo passports, allegations persist that the players failed to formally renounce their previous citizenships — a requirement under the country’s constitution, which does not recognise dual nationality.
“If You Can’t Win on the Pitch…” — DR Congo Fires Back
In a strongly worded post shared on the national team’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, DR Congo dismissed Nigeria’s claims and accused the Super Eagles of attempting to overturn the result through administrative manoeuvres.
“If you can’t win on the pitch, don’t try to win from the back door. The World Cup must be played with dignity and confidence — not with legal tricks. Bring it on,” the post read.
The Congolese football body further shared images showing players who switched nationality — including Aaron Wan-Bissaka — during a courtesy visit to President Felix Tshisekedi.
Additional screenshots from FIFA’s official website, under the “Change of Association” platform, were also posted, displaying dates when several key players formally completed their switch of nationality to DR Congo.
NFF Confirms Petition to FIFA
Earlier on Monday, Nigerian football officials confirmed that a formal petition had been submitted to FIFA seeking a review of the players’ eligibility.
“NFF has done the needful,” a member of the federation’s executive board told www.cjsoftflix.com.
“Their constitution does not allow dual citizenship, and about six to nine players had that status during the play-off. That is the loophole we are exploring. Our lawyers must have submitted the relevant documents to FIFA as well,” the official added.
NFF General Secretary Explains Nigeria’s Position
NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, also confirmed that the federation had raised concerns over the nationality switch of the Congolese players.
“We’re waiting. The Congolese rules say you cannot have dual citizenship or nationality,” Sanusi said.
“Wan-Bissaka has a European passport; some of them have French passports, others Dutch passports. The rules are very clear, and we have submitted our petition.”
He further clarified FIFA’s role in the matter, stating that the world football governing body relies on documents submitted by national associations.
“FIFA rules say once you have a passport of your country, you’re eligible, and that is why they were cleared. But our concern is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them. It is not FIFA’s responsibility to enforce Congo’s domestic regulations. What we are saying is that the process was fraudulent,” he explained.
World Cup Implications for Nigeria and DR Congo
The controversy has reignited hope among Nigerian fans that the Super Eagles could still secure a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after failing to qualify for the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
DR Congo, on the other hand, has featured at the FIFA World Cup only once — in 1974, when the country competed under the name Zaire.
As FIFA reviews the petition, the football world awaits a decision that could significantly reshape Africa’s World Cup qualification landscape.
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