World Cup 2026: Nigeria's complaint against DR Congo, FIFA verdict imminent

The Nigerian Football Federation is anxiously awaiting the final decision from the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) regarding the appeal lodged against the result of the African playoff between Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as part of the qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

Nigeria – DR Congo: FIFA set to deliver its decision

According to Daily Post Nigeria, the world governing body is expected to officially announce its decision in the coming hours regarding the complaint filed last December by the Nigerian federation, following the elimination of the Super Eagles.

The match, played in Morocco last November, ended in a 1-1 draw after regular time and extra time. The Democratic Republic of Congo ultimately secured their ticket with a 4-3 victory in the penalty shootout, thus earning their place in the next round of qualifiers.

Nigeria's appeal is based on a challenge concerning the eligibility of certain Congolese players. The federation claims that the procedures for changing the sporting nationality for several of them may not have fully complied with FIFA regulations. As a result, it is demanding a review of the match result and a thorough examination of the administrative status of the players involved.

If FIFA upholds the result, DR Congo will continue their journey in the intercontinental playoff scheduled from March 23 to 31. Conversely, if the complaint is deemed admissible, the qualification process could be thrown into question.

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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