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Colin Udoh
Multiple Authors
FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee has dismissed Nigeria’s protest regarding the eligibility of several players from Congo DR who participated in last November’s African World Cup playoff, as announced by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Monday.
The NFF has initiated the appeals process following this decision.
“We have received the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision regarding our petition, but we are not content with the outcome,” stated NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi. “I assure Nigerians that we are actively appealing this ruling.”
The appeal is likely to be brought before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but it’s uncertain whether it will be resolved before the intercontinental playoffs commence on March 26. Congo DR is set to compete in that round on March 31, with a chance to qualify for the World Cup hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The DRC has not publicly responded to the ruling.
The NFF lodged its protest with FIFA shortly after Congo DR triumphed over Nigeria in a penalty shootout (4-3), following a 1-1 finish in regulation and extra time during the CAF World Cup playoff final on November 16 at the Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco. This victory enabled Congo DR to advance to the intercontinental playoff phase.
Nigeria’s complaint, which was later supported by Cameroon in a separate petition, alleged that between six and nine players from Congo DR inappropriately switched international allegiances. The NFF claimed these players retained their European passports, in violation of Congolese law, which does not allow for dual citizenship.
“Congolese regulations prohibit dual nationality,” Sanusi mentioned to reporters. “Numerous players possess European passports, some are French while others are Dutch. The regulations are explicit.”
Conversely, FIFA’s regulations diverge from Congolese domestic law. FIFA only mandates that a player has a valid passport from the country they represent, a requirement all contested players fulfilled by possessing valid Congolese passports. This was the basis for FIFA’s initial approval for their participation.
Despite this, the NFF argued that FIFA was misinformed when these clearances were granted.
“FIFA regulations state that holding a passport from your country makes you eligible. As far as we are concerned, that is why they were cleared by FIFA,” Sanusi remarked. “However, we believe that FIFA was misled into providing those clearances since ensuring adherence to Congo’s regulations is not FIFA’s responsibility.”
Congo DR has been matched to face the victor of the semifinal clash between New Caledonia and Jamaica in the forthcoming intercontinental playoff. The winner of that contest will secure one of the last available spots in the World Cup.