NFF petition to FIFA: DR Congo accuses Nigeria of ‘backdoor’ tactics

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has criticised Nigeria for petitioning world football governing body, FIFA, over the alleged use of ineligible players during their 2026 World Cup playoff clash, accusing the Super Eagles of attempting to qualify “through the back door” after losing on penalties.

In a statement posted on the Congolese national team’s official Instagram page on Tuesday night, DR Congo dismissed Nigeria’s action, urging the Super Eagles to accept defeat on the pitch.

“If you can’t win on the pitch, don’t try to win from the back door. The World Cup should be played with dignity and confidence, not with legal tricks. Bring it on. Allez y les Léopards,” the statement read.

The reaction followed confirmation by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that it had formally submitted a petition to FIFA, alleging that DR Congo fielded nine ineligible players during the playoff match in Morocco.

Explaining the basis of the petition, NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said the players were cleared by FIFA based on documentation submitted, without consideration of Congolese domestic laws on citizenship.

“Our petition concerns nine DR Congo players. FIFA was deceived into clearing them because it is not FIFA’s responsibility to interpret or enforce domestic citizenship laws,” Sanusi said.

He argued that Congolese law does not permit dual citizenship, yet some of the players allegedly hold dual nationality. According to him, while FIFA regulations allow a player to represent a country once in possession of its passport, the clearance process may have been based on misleading information.

“What we are saying is that the process was fraudulent. FIFA acts on what is presented to it and does not enforce a country’s internal laws,” he added.

DR Congo had edged Nigeria on penalties to book a place in the Intercontinental Playoffs scheduled for March 2026 in Mexico, keeping alive their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup.

The controversy has reignited debate among Nigerian football fans, many of whom are hopeful that FIFA’s review of the petition could alter the outcome of the playoff.

Nigeria last featured at the World Cup in 2018 and failed to qualify for the 2022 tournament in Qatar, raising fears that missing the 2026 edition would further deepen fans’ disappointment.

FIFA is now expected to rule on the matter. If Nigeria’s petition is upheld and eligibility breaches are established, the Super Eagles could be reinstated into contention for the Intercontinental Playoffs, provided the fixtures have not already been concluded.