The Nigeria Football Federation, known as the NFF, has formally submitted a petition to FIFA, accusing the Democratic Republic of Congo of fielding as many as nine ineligible players during their recent World Cup playoff encounter. Among the names cited is Manchester United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka. FIFA has confirmed receipt of the complaint and is now reviewing the case.
Nigeria is seeking a reversal of the match result and hopes to be awarded qualification to the inter-confederation playoffs should FIFA rule in their favor.
At the heart of the dispute is Nigeria’s claim that several DR Congo players were born abroad and hold European passports, giving them dual nationality. According to the NFF, this violates Congolese law, which does not recognize dual citizenship. Nigerian officials argue that this renders the players ineligible to represent DR Congo under national law.
Speaking on the matter, NFF Secretary General Dr. Mohammed Sanusi said FIFA initially cleared the players based on documents submitted by Congolese authorities. However, he claims FIFA was misled, emphasizing that while FIFA governs football eligibility, it does not enforce or verify compliance with a country’s domestic citizenship laws.
Beyond the dual nationality issue, reports suggest a more direct concern under FIFA regulations. According to the NFF, Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s eligibility for the specific match against Nigeria had not yet received formal FIFA approval at the time he featured. If confirmed, that alone could constitute a breach of FIFA rules, regardless of Congolese nationality law.
Under FIFA regulations, the use of an ineligible player can lead to serious consequences, including forfeiture of the match. Such a ruling would see Nigeria advance to the next stage of World Cup qualifying.
DR Congo officials have strongly rejected the allegations. They argue that FIFA operates on the principle of sporting nationality, not legal nationality, and insist that all players involved were properly registered and eligible under FIFA statutes. Congolese authorities have also accused Nigeria of attempting to overturn the result “through the back door” after losing the match on the field.
As FIFA deliberates, the case highlights the growing complexity of nationality, eligibility, and governance in modern international football.
A final decision from FIFA is expected in the coming weeks.
Reporting by Henry Nichols.
