The Nigeria Football Federation’s protest over DR Congo’s alleged use of an ineligible player in their 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff defeat was reportedly rejected partly because the complaint was sent to the wrong FIFA email address.
According to reports, FIFA said the NFF sent its petition to the General Secretary rather than through the designated legal portal, contributing to the technical grounds on which the case was dismissed.
The dispute dates back to November 16, 2025, when Nigeria faced DR Congo in the CAF World Cup qualifying playoff final at the Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat. The match finished 1-1 after extra time, with Frank Onyeka scoring early for Nigeria before Meschack Elia equalised, forcing the tie into a penalty shootout.
DR Congo eventually prevailed 4-3 on penalties, with goalkeeper Timothy Fayulu making crucial saves to send the Leopards into the intercontinental playoff. The defeat ended Nigeria’s route to the 2026 World Cup, while DR Congo went on to defeat Jamaica in the next stage and qualify for the tournament.
Nigeria’s complaint centred on the eligibility of several DR Congo players, with particular attention now focused on goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.
Reports from The New York Times and Le Monde indicate that FIFA officials later found that Mpasi had not completed the necessary process to switch his international allegiance from France to DR Congo, despite having played for the Congolese national team.
FIFA ultimately ruled Nigeria’s protest inadmissible, citing procedural issues including the timing of the complaint. The latest revelation about the email address has added another layer to the controversy, while FIFA maintains that its disciplinary committees operate independently and that there were no eligibility issues in DR Congo’s subsequent matches against Jamaica or at the 2026 World Cup.
