NFF Begins Appeal As FIFA Rejects Petition Against DR Congo

The Federation of International Football Federations FIFA has rejected Nigeria’s petition to disqualify Congo DR on the grounds of alleged use of ineligible players.

FIFA’s decision was revealed by the Nigeria Football Federation in a media release on Tuesday.

Nigeria lost to Congo DR 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time in their continental playoff final in Rabat, Morocco, with Congo DR set to represent Africa at the intercontinental playoff in Mexico later this month to vie for one of the outstanding two 2026 World Cup tickets.

Nigeria launched a petition against Congo DR for using players it alleged were ineligible for possessing dual nationalities. According to the NFF, the petition submitted in December was “based on perceived fraud in the issuance of passports that qualified a number of players of the Democratic Republic of Congo for the Play-offs.”

However, FIFA, through its disciplinary committee has rejected the petition after months of uncertainty, but the NFF has appealed against the outcome.

The country’s football governing body, through its Secretary General, Mohammed Sanusi, saidat it has begun the process of an appeal, just over a week before the intercontinental playoffs is set to kick off.

“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,” he said.

Nigeria last featured in the World Cup at the 2018 World Cup held in Russia.

The Super Eagles failed to qualify for Qatar 2022, and is set to miss consecutive World Cup tournaments for the first time since a maiden appearance at USA 1994.