{"id":107346,"date":"2025-12-17T22:53:43","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T22:53:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=107346"},"modified":"2025-12-17T22:53:43","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T22:53:43","slug":"nigeria-allege-dr-congo-fraud-as-they-hunt-world-cup-reprieve","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=107346","title":{"rendered":"Nigeria allege DR Congo \u2018fraud\u2019 as they hunt World Cup reprieve"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>2 Minute, 54 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>
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Nigeria are hoping to revive their chances of reaching next year\u2019s World Cup after submitting a complaint to FIFA alleging that the Democratic Republic of Congo fielded ineligible players in last month\u2019s African play-off final.<\/p>\n

DR Congo beat the Super Eagles on penalties\u00a0to book their place in March\u2019s intercontinental qualifier, which will allocate the final two places up for grabs for the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States.<\/p>\n

But Nigeria\u2019s claim of \u201cfraud\u201d centres on a group of players who recently switched their international allegiance to their opponents.<\/p>\n

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) believes players such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe, both of whom featured in the game in Morocco, were ineligible because Congolese law does not allow dual citizenship.<\/p>\n

But the Congolese Football Federation (Fecofa) has rejected the NFF\u2019s challenge.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe contend that FIFA was deceived into clearing them,\u201d said NFF general secretary Mohammed Sanusi.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Congolese rule (law) says you cannot have dual nationality, but some of their players have European and French passports.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is what we consider to be a breach of (FIFA\u2019s) regulations. We are saying it was fraudulent.\u201d<\/p>\n

The NFF says it has submitted supporting documents and legal arguments to world football\u2019s governing body.<\/p>\n

The BBC has contacted FIFA for comment and is waiting to hear back.<\/p>\n

Fecofa, however, has branded the petition as an attempt to \u201cwin via the back door\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe World Cup must be played with dignity and confidence. Not with lawyers\u2019 tricks,\u201d\u00a0said a post on the Leopards\u2019 official social media,\u00a0external.<\/p>\n

The message also described Nigeria as \u201cbad losers\u201d and dismissed the complaint as poor sportsmanship.<\/p>\n

Precedents and possible outcomes<\/h2>\n
FIFA deducted three points from South Africa during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers for fielding a suspended player.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

FIFA statutes set out the conditions under which a player may change the national association they represent.<\/p>\n

Under these rules, a player may request to change the association they are eligible to represent only once, and the request must be in writing, substantiated, and must be approved by FIFA\u2019s Players\u2019 Status Committee.<\/p>\n

While FIFA requires a player to hold a passport for the nation they wish to represent, they may also hold another passport.<\/p>\n

But this is not the case under Congolese law.<\/p>\n

When a formal protest reaches FIFA, there are several possible outcomes:<\/p>\n