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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed concern over the world football governing body, FIFA’s silence on the petition it filed against DR Congo for using “ineligible” players to defeat the Super Eagles in the final game of the 2026 World Cup African playoff.
The Super Eagles lost to DR Congo 4-3 on penalties as scores stood at 1-1 after extra time. But the NFF filed a petition alleging that DR Congo paraded several players who were not eligible for the playoffs hosted by Morocco in Rabat, in November.
Nigeria is demanding that DRC be thrown out of the World Cup qualifiers as a result of the “rule infringement” and the African ticket handed over to the Super Eagles.
Since then, there have been various reports suggesting that Nigeria might win the petition and proceed to the intercontinental playoff billed for Mexico in March.
A top official of the NFF told The Guardian yesterday, that the federation has not received any response from FIFA.
“There is no response from FIFA in that regard, and we are worried,” the official said. “We are heading towards the end of January, and one should expect that by now, FIFA should respond to our petition against DR Congo.
“It is important we have a clue of what is happening to the petition so that the NFF will know how to prepare the Super Eagles for the task ahead,” the official said.
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, had told The Guardian in Rabat, Morocco, during the just-concluded AFCON that the outcome of the petition against DR Congo might be decided by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) if any of the parties is not satisfied with FIFA’s verdict when it eventually comes.
“If Nigeria eventually wins the petition, DR Congo might approach CAS, and if the reverse is the case, Nigeria might also take the case to CAS. It is still a long walk.”
The winner of the petition will clash with the winner of the inter-confederation playoff tie between Jamaica and New Caledonia in March in Mexico.
Many football-loving Nigerians are hopeful that the petition against DR Congo would turn out positive for the Super Eagles to be part of the 2026 World Cup to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. (Guardian)
