The Nigeria team lines up during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Rwanda’s Amavubi, which Nigeria wins 1-0, at Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, on September 6, 2025. (Photo by Adekunle Ajayi/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
• Ends World cup dream
Football World governing body FIFA has rejected Nigeria’s petition against the Democratic Republic of Congo alleging the fielding of ineligible players in the playoff game held in Rabat.
The decision which filtered into town weekend, has officially quashed Nigeria’s hope of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The world football governing body ruled that Nigeria’s petition lacked sufficient grounds.
The Nigeria football federation (NFF) filed a petition to FIFA after the Super Eagles lost to DR Congo in the CAF intercontinental playoff final held on November 16, in Rabat, Morocco.
The game ended 1–1 at regulation time, before DR Congo stopped Nigeria 4–3 in a penalty shootout.
NFF complaint questioned the eligibility of certain DR Congo players who featured in the playoff, citing alleged breaches of competition regulations.
But FIFA’s review panel has concluded that the players in question were properly registered and cleared to participate.
The football body also stated that no violations of its statutes or CAF competition rules were established.
As a result, DR Congo’s qualification for the intercontinental playoffs remains valid, while Nigeria has been eliminated from the race to the 2026 World Cup.
The decision has further dampened the already failed spirit of the Super Eagles fans across the world, as many had hoped the appeal would alter the equation in favour of the Nigerian team after the painful loss via penalty shootout.
The outcome has placed a seal on the Super Eagles missing out in two consecutive senior men football world cup tournaments after it failed to qualify for the 2022 edition in Qatar.
