The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has initiated an appeal process following a ruling by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee which dismissed its protest against the Democratic Republic of Congo national football team over player eligibility concerns.
Nigeria had earlier filed a petition after their decisive 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoff clash held on November 16, 2025, in Rabat, Morocco. The NFF alleged irregularities surrounding the issuance of passports to some DR Congo players who featured in the encounter.
However, FIFA’s disciplinary body rejected the protest, prompting the NFF to swiftly activate its right to appeal the decision through established judicial channels.
Confirming the development, NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, stated that while the federation acknowledged receipt of the ruling, it was dissatisfied with the outcome.
“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,” Sanusi said.
The disputed playoff, staged at the Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, ended 1-1 after regulation and extra time, with the Congolese side eventually triumphing via a sudden-death penalty shootout.
Nigeria’s case hinged on what it described as suspected irregularities in documentation that enabled certain DR Congo players to qualify for the match.
With the initial protest now dismissed, the NFF will seek a review in a bid to overturn the ruling and potentially reopen the matter as the race for qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup intensifies.
