DR Congo: FIFA denies any eligibility issue concerning Lionel Mpasi

FIFA has denied reports of an eligibility issue concerning Lionel Mpasi during the playoff against Jamaica and at the 2026 World Cup. The world governing body said it had examined a complaint from the Nigerian Federation before declaring it inadmissible.

Questioned by the Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA), FIFA stated that “there was no issue concerning” Lionel Mpasi’s eligibility during DR Congo’s match against Jamaica or at the 2026 World Cup. The statement came a day after Le Monde and The New York Times published revelations about the Congolese goalkeeper’s administrative situation.

FIFA clarified that its Disciplinary Committee had examined a complaint filed by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) in connection with the matter. At the end of the proceedings, the complaint was declared inadmissible. According to FIFA, the decision was notified to the NFF at the beginning of March 2026 and became final in the absence of an admissible appeal.

Read also: 2026 World Cup: DR Congo could have been disqualified because of a player!

Internal documents at the heart of the controversy

This statement does not make the details revealed by Le Monde and The New York Times disappear. According to internal documents consulted by both media outlets, FIFA lawyers had concluded in March that the process initiated by FECOFA to allow Lionel Mpasi to change his sporting affiliation had never been finalized.

A former French youth international, Mpasi had played several matches for France’s national teams, including some at under-17 level. FECOFA had begun the necessary procedures for his change of affiliation in 2021, but they allegedly did not succeed, according to the FIFA lawyers cited by Le Monde.

The latter had notably examined the potential consequences of the goalkeeper’s situation for the African qualifiers. They believed that several matches played by Mpasi for DR Congo could be affected and had issued various disciplinary recommendations.

FIFA ultimately imposed no sanction on DR Congo, and Lionel Mpasi took part in the intercontinental playoff against Jamaica before playing at the 2026 World Cup with the Leopards. FIFA now states that there was no eligibility issue concerning either of these stages of the competition.

The controversy now therefore concerns the difference between the internal conclusions reported by the two media outlets and the official position expressed by FIFA. The governing body maintains that the disciplinary proceedings concerning the Nigerian complaint were conducted in accordance with the regulations and that the decision is final.

FECOFA, for its part, has not yet issued a public response to the revelations concerning the Lionel Mpasi case.

Nouya M'toama

Editorfr, en

Versatile journalist specializing in sports and political news, with extensive experience across radio, print and digital media platforms.

Related teams and leagues

DR Congo

World Cup