Nigeria’s hopes of featuring in the 2026 FIFA World Cup have officially ended after FIFA dismissed the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) protest against DR Congo over player eligibility.
The decisive African play-off match, held on November 16, 2025, in Rabat, Morocco, ended 1-1 after extra time, with DR Congo winning 4-3 on penalties.
The NFF subsequently challenged the participation of several DR Congo players, claiming irregularities in passport issuance.
However, according to veteran football journalist Kunle Solaja, citing an inside source at FIFA, the protest failed due to procedural errors.
The complaint was submitted nearly two weeks after the match, missing the strict two-hour window required for notifying the match commissioner.
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Additionally, the NFF did not pay the mandatory protest fee of 1,000 Swiss francs, and the detailed written submission required within 24 hours was not provided.
“The appeal widely reported in the media was never formally considered by FIFA’s judicial bodies because it didn’t meet procedural rules,” the source explained.
With the protest thrown out, DR Congo’s qualification for the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup,co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, stands, while Nigeria’s campaign comes to a disappointing end.
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