The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has ruled in favour of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in an eligibility dispute arising from the Best Losers Playoff match against the Congolese Association Football Federation (FECOFA) in the African qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In its decision issued under the FIFA Disciplinary Code and the 2026 World Cup Qualification Framework, the Committee held today that DR Congo fielded an ineligible player during the decisive playoff encounter.
The match, which ended in a 2–1 victory for DR Congo, had provisionally secured advancement for the Central African side.
However, Nigeria lodged a formal protest, alleging that one of DR Congo’s players had not completed the required nationality switch process before featuring in the fixture.
After reviewing the official match report, player registration documents, correspondence between FECOFA and FIFA’s Players’ Status Department, and submissions from both federations, the Committee found that the player had previously represented another national association at youth level and had initiated, but not completed, a formal change of association.
According to the Committee’s findings, written approval from FIFA — a mandatory requirement before representing a new national team in an “A” international match — had not been granted prior to the playoff. No provisional clearance was issued.
Citing Article 9 of the Regulations Governing the Application of the FIFA Statutes and Article 21 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the Committee ruled that fielding an ineligible player in an official competition match warrants forfeiture.
Consequently, the match was declared forfeited, and the result was recorded as DR Congo 0–3 Nigeria.
The Super Eagles were therefore declared winners of the Best Losers Playoff Round and awarded qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup
While DR Congo has been disqualified from the playoff pathway, the federation retains the right to appeal before the FIFA Appeals Committee.
In its observations, the Committee underscored the importance of strict compliance with nationality switch procedures, particularly in high-stakes fixtures determining World Cup qualification, noting that administrative processes must be fully concluded before player participation.
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