Nigeria’s complaint against DR Congo: a CAF source reveals its position

A source within the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has provided clarification on the most likely outcome of the complaint filed by Nigeria against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) national team. This move follows the selection of dual-nationality players during the African playoff for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The Leopards edged out the Nigerian Super Eagles after a dramatic penalty shootout (4-3), thus securing their spot in the intercontinental playoff scheduled for next March, alongside five other teams.

Nigeria argues that current legislation in the Democratic Republic of Congo prohibits dual nationality. Accordingly, Abuja believes that the participation of several players—most notably Axel Tuanzebe, Arthur Masuaku, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Charles Pickel, all of whom have previously represented other national teams—violated the regulations, prompting the formal complaint to the relevant authorities.

Nigeria vs DR Congo case: A CAF source provides an update

According to a CAF source familiar with the details and quoted by the Egyptian website (FilGoal), Nigeria's complaint is mainly based on the claim that some players obtained Congolese nationality despite local laws not allowing dual nationality with a European passport.

However, the same source points out that FIFA's regulations are clear: a player's eligibility is first and foremost based on holding a valid passport from the country they represent. As long as this condition is met, there is no violation.

Finally, the source assures that any possible administrative irregularity would have no impact on sporting results. No points will be deducted, nor will matches be rescheduled; any sanctions would be limited to a fine or a warning, with no comparison to the Emilio Nsue case involving Equatorial Guinea, since the legal contexts are different.

Expert opinion: Is DR Congo favored over Nigeria in the African World Cup 2026 playoffs?

Mohamed Rek |

Editorfr, ar, en

Mohamed Rek- sports content writer with over 10 years of experience creating football content in Arabic and French for platforms such as Foot Africa and Starafrica, combining accuracy, creativity, and audience engagement.

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