Nigeria to take eligibility battle to CAS after FIFA rejects protest against DR Congo

2026-03-18 - 03:41

The Nigeria Football Federation is pushing ahead with its fight against FIFA's decision to dismiss their protest over DR Congo's player eligibility, with plans to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. At the heart of the dispute lies Nigeria's claim that DR Congo fielded several ineligible players—among them Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe—during their World Cup playoff final last November. According to the NFF, the players' switches in nationality did not meet legal requirements under Congolese law, which does not recognise dual citizenship for adults. That match ended in heartbreak for the Super Eagles, who lost 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, seemingly dashing their hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup. FIFA's Disciplinary Committee has now rejected Nigeria's complaint, but the NFF is refusing to let the matter rest. "We are not satisfied with the decision," said NFF general secretary Mohammed Sanusi. "We have immediately commenced the process of appealing." Complicating matters, FIFA has already scheduled DR Congo for the upcoming Intercontinental Play-offs in Mexico. The Leopards are set to face either Jamaica or New Caledonia on March 31, with the tournament kicking off on March 26. That leaves Nigeria with little more than a week to overturn the ruling and potentially reclaim a spot in the qualification pathway. Send your news stories to [email protected] and via WhatsApp on +233 546310076.