In a final ruling on December 26, FIFA dismissed Nigeria's appeal challenging DR Congo players' eligibility in their 2026 World Cup qualifying playoff, confirming DR Congo's penalty shootout victory and advancement to intercontinental playoffs. This follows an initial dismissal reported earlier, ending Nigeria's qualification hopes.
Building on the Nigeria Football Federation's (NFF) protest filed December 16—alleging up to nine DR Congo players violated dual nationality rules—FIFA rejected the appeal due to insufficient evidence. A key example was Manchester United's Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who switched from England youth teams to DR Congo in 2024 and met FIFA criteria, having never played for England's senior side.
The November 16 playoff in Rabat ended 1-1 (Victor Osimhen for Nigeria, Cédric Bakambu for DR Congo), with DR Congo winning 4-3 on penalties. FIFA confirmed all players were properly registered per its statutes and CAF rules, prioritizing international eligibility over national laws.
DR Congo now eyes World Cup spots via intercontinental playoffs for the 48-team tournament. Nigeria, absent since 2018 after six prior appearances, shifts to rebuilding for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations amid fan disappointment. The case highlights FIFA's evidence standards in disputes and African teams' diaspora recruitment trends.
