By Victor Onajero Akpososo
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has submitted a formal petition to FIFA challenging the Democratic Republic of Congo’s use of several players in the African World Cup qualifying playoffs, alleging the players were ineligible because they had not been properly cleared to switch nationalities under Congolese law.
NFF General Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi told reporters the federation believes FIFA was given incorrect or incomplete information during the clearance process, and that the players in question still hold foreign passports or otherwise did not satisfy domestic Congolese nationality rules.
“The Congolese rules say you cannot have dual nationality,” Sanusi said, adding that several players reportedly hold European passports.
The move comes after DR Congo eliminated Nigeria in the CAF playoff final in Rabat — a penalty-shootout defeat that dashed the Super Eagles’ hopes of an immediate return to the World Cup.
Nigeria’s complaint asks FIFA to review the documentation used to clear the players and to determine whether DR Congo breached the eligibility regulations.
Sanusi suggested the NFF’s case hinges on the distinction between FIFA’s clearance (based on passports and international-switch paperwork) and compliance with domestic citizenship laws, which the NFF says may not have been respected.
“FIFA rules say once you have a passport of your country, you’re eligible… but the players did not fully comply with DR Congo’s domestic laws on nationality,” he said.
