FIFA knew DR Congo fielded ineligible player against Nigeria in World Cup qualifier – Report

FIFA allowed DR Congo to escape disciplinary action for fielding an ineligible player in a 2026 World Cup qualifier against Nigeria, a new report has revealed.

The details of FIFA’s handling of the case were reported by The New York Times on Tuesday, revealing that world football’s governing body rejected Nigeria’s appeal on technical grounds despite the player’s ineligibility.

Super Eagles had a chance to qualify for the World Cup through the intercontinental play-off but lost to DR Congo 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the continental final in November 2025.

DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi-Nzau played all 120 minutes in the win, prompting Nigeria to file a complaint with FIFA challenging his eligibility.

That appeal was dismissed on technical grounds, and the defeat, combined with the failed appeal, meant Nigeria missed a second consecutive World Cup for the first time since its maiden appearance in 1994.

However, The New York Times has found that FIFA knew Mpasi was ineligible but rejected Nigeria’s appeal regardless.

Documents seen by the news platform showed that the former French youth international had not filed the necessary paperwork to complete his nationality switch from France to DR Congo.

According to the report, the FIFA committee handling the complaint proposed awarding the match to Nigeria, a decision that would have sent the Super Eagles to face Jamaica in the intercontinental play-offs.

The committee also proposed “doing nothing on the grounds that Nigeria had filed its complaint late”.

Ibrahim Gusau, former president of the Nigeria Football Federation, said FIFA disclosed only the judgment without providing details of its findings, and that the Zurich-based organisation would have faced a crisis had the committee’s findings become public.

“They just kept quiet, and they can’t tell anyone because they know it’s going to be a serious crisis for them,” Gusau said.

It was also alleged that disqualifying DR Congo could have damaged the relationship between Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, and Véron Mosengo-Omba, the DR Congo football federation president, who was elected two months after the country sealed its 2026 World Cup qualification.

The case is the latest controversy facing FIFA, with Infantino having lost the support of multiple federations across Europe and other continents following his attempt to sell a minority stake in FIFA competitions, including the World Cup.

The embattled Swiss-Italian official meets African football officials this week in Cape Verde, where he is expected to pitch his re-election bid to a continent that holds 54 votes, second only to UEFA’s 55.(the cable)