(L) The DR Congo national football team and Nigeria’s Super Eagles
• Shows interest in passport acquisition process by players
From our Sports desk, Lagos
It is getting interesting about the petition written to the World Football governing body, FIFA by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) against the fielding of ineligible players by the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Reports say according to reliable sources close to FIFA, the outcome of the case may turn out a shocker to many persons in the global football fraternity because of the salient issues raised by Nigeria.
The NFF had raised the alarm about the fielding of seven ineligible players by the DR Congo, against the Super Eagles in the playoffs held in Morocco, November 2025 citing relevant portions of the laws governing world football.
The alleged DR Congo players as at the time of participating in the playoffs were still holding dual nationality, as against the provisions of the country’s constitution which forbids having another passport, the NFF argued.
FIFA per what OwnGoalNigeria.com exclusively gathered will rule on the case in February before DR Congo takes part in the intercontinental playoff, with Nigeria seeking that they be disqualified, and their slot handed to them
Sitting atop of what FIFA will seek to establish in the petition, will be the passport acquisition process by the affected players; how did they acquire the Congolese passport submitted for their clearance, without renouncing their other citizenship as contained in the country’s constitution, it was scooped.
The argument that sporting eligibility supercedes national eligibility will not stand before FIFA, because not all players who have roots with another country can switch and play, the reliable FIFA source was quoted to have said.
In addition, the manner in which the passport was acquired is also key as seen in the case that led to the fine and ban on Malaysia, according to a FIFA Chief who was at the recently concluded AFCON.
”It’s not about acquiring the passport, but how it was gotten and if it satisfies national laws. If we don’t go by that then we can have countries handing passports to all manner of people to represent them” the source was further quoted to have stated.
The DR Congo football team in the African playoffs held in Morocco last November, stopped Nigeria’s lofty dream of advancing to the intercontinental playoffs in March, and possibly qualifying for the World Cup in June.
DR Congo stunned Nigeria winning 4-3 via penalty shootout after the regular 90 minutes of open play with the extra time of 30 minutes ended 1-1 draw.
