World Cup: NFF denies reports of FIFA rejecting Nigeria’s DR Congo appeal

The Nigeria Football Federation has denied reports claiming that FIFA has rejected Nigeria’s appeal against the Democratic Republic of Congo over the alleged use of ineligible players during their World Cup playoff clash, Sunday PUNCH reports.

Reacting to the reports, NFF Secretary General, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said the federation had not received any communication from FIFA regarding the matter.

“The Nigeria Football Federation wrote a petition to FIFA on the eligibility of some of the players of DR Congo, and if there is anything, FIFA will reply to the NFF,” Sanusi said during an interview on AIT on Saturday.

“The NFF has not received any letter from FIFA saying they have thrown away our petition. We have checked our emails, and there was no letter from FIFA.

“I don’t know where they got their information from. If there is any such letter, let them show it, unless they have someone in FIFA giving them information ahead of official communication,” he added.

Nigeria lost the playoff final 4–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw against DR Congo in November, missing out on a place in the intercontinental playoffs for the 2026 World Cup.

The NFF insists its petition remains under review and maintains that no official response has been received from FIFA.