The Super Eagles’ pursuit of a 2026 World Cup lifeline via the boardroom has hit a significant roadblock. A high-ranking official within the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has signaled that the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) legal challenge against the Democratic Republic of Congo is likely to be dismissed by FIFA.
The NFF’s petition centered on the eligibility of DRC stars Axel Tuanzebe and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, arguing that Congolese law’s prohibition of dual citizenship should have invalidated their participation. However, sources close to the governing body indicate that FIFA’s regulatory framework prioritizes international documentation over domestic legislative technicalities.
The case for overturning the result appears to be crumbling based on two primary factors:
Passport Primacy: FIFA regulations dictate that the possession of a valid national passport is the primary requirement for a switch of international allegiance. As long as the DRC issued official passports to the players, FIFA views their eligibility as legitimate, regardless of internal Congolese nationality laws.
The “Nsue” Distinction: Unlike the recent case of Equatorial Guinea’s Emilio Nsue—where results were forfeited—the CAF insider noted that those violations occurred under different administrative timelines. Sanctioning the DRC now would require a logistical “restart” of the qualification process, an outcome FIFA is reportedly unwilling to consider.
Even if an administrative breach is identified, the NFF is unlikely to receive the “backdoor” qualification they are hoping for. According to the source, the most probable disciplinary actions include:
A substantial financial penalty levied against the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFA).
A formal warning regarding future compliance with player registration.
“In the current case, changing results would require restarting the qualification process, which is not under consideration,” the CAF source stated, effectively ending speculation of a Nigerian return to the tournament.
As it stands, the Democratic Republic of Congo remains on track for the inter-confederation playoffs, where they will face the winner of New Caledonia vs. Jamaica for a coveted spot in the 2026 finals.
