The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has begun the process of appealing a ruling by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee that rejected its protest against the Democratic Republic of Congo over the eligibility of some players used in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoff.
Nigeria had petitioned FIFA following the playoff match played on November 16, 2025, in Rabat, Morocco, alleging irregularities in the issuance of passports that allowed certain DR Congo players to feature in the encounter.
However, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee dismissed the petition, prompting the Nigerian football governing body to immediately activate the appeal process.
NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, confirmed that the federation had received the ruling but would challenge it through FIFA’s judicial procedures.
We have received the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee on our petition, but we are not satisfied with the decision, which rejected our petition. I want to assure Nigerians that the NFF has immediately commenced the process of appealing the decision,” Sanusi said.
The disputed match was played at the Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat and served as the final of the African playoff stage for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification pathway.
Both teams were level at 1–1 after regulation time and extra time before the Congolese side prevailed in a sudden-death penalty shootout to secure victory.
Nigeria’s protest was based on what the NFF described as perceived fraud in the issuance of passports that enabled a number of DR Congo players to qualify for the playoff.
With the initial complaint now dismissed by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee, the NFF will seek a review of the case through the appeal process in an effort to overturn the ruling.
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