Nigeria’s hopes of keeping their 2026 FIFA World Cup dream alive have received a fresh boost as FIFA continues to investigate alleged eligibility breaches involving players used by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) during the African qualification playoffs.
The Super Eagles were eliminated by DR Congo via penalties in a decisive playoff encounter.
However, that result is now under review following complaints that several players in the Congolese squad may not have met FIFA’s eligibility requirements at the time of the matches.
According to reports, the investigation centres on claims that a number of DR Congo players changed national allegiance without fully complying with both FIFA regulations and Congolese citizenship laws.
DR Congo is said to have strict rules on dual nationality, requiring individuals who acquire another citizenship to formally renounce their original status — a process that is especially significant for players who had already exceeded the age threshold for switching national teams.
FIFA rules stipulate that holding a passport alone does not automatically qualify a player to represent a country.
Players must also satisfy domestic legal requirements and complete all administrative procedures governing international eligibility.
Concerns have also reportedly been raised over the documentation of at least one player who had previously declined an international call-up.
World football’s governing body is understood to be carefully reviewing all submissions before reaching a decision.
Possible outcomes range from fines and point deductions to match forfeiture, depending on the severity of any confirmed violations.
While a complete disqualification would be considered unlikely, the ongoing probe has introduced uncertainty around DR Congo’s qualification status.
Nigeria, meanwhile, remain on alert as they await FIFA’s final verdict, which could significantly reshape the qualification picture for the 2026 World Cup.