Nigeria may not have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by traditional means, but they believe they deserve a shot at the intercontinental playoff route.
The Super Eagles have lodged a complaint with FIFA that could, if granted, allow them another chance at earning passage to next year's tournament in North America.
Failing to qualify for the World Cup by winning their group, Nigeria were beaten on penalties by DR Congo in the final of the CAF World Cup qualification playoff, sending the Leopards to the interconfederation playoff in March.
But Nigeria believe they have identified a reason they should be the playoff participants instead of DR Congo, and have filed a protest with FIFA.
AllSportsPeople brings you an overview of what Nigeria feel they are entitled to, why they are filing a complaint, and the possible outcomes of the situation.
MORE: Nigeria beaten by Egypt in pre-AFCON friendly
Why are Nigeria protesting over DR Congo players?
Nigeria have submitted a formal protest to FIFA over the eligibility of certain DR Congo players.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) alleges that up to six DR Congo players did not complete the full requirements for a one-time switch to represent the Leopards officially.
The technicality revolves around DR Congo's own international citizenship laws, which do not recognize dual nationals. Thus, all those wishing to become DR Congo citizens must renounce their previous citizenship.
The NFF believes that multiple DR Congo players have not renounced their previous citizenship, thereby bypassing the normal process to receive DR Congo citizenship.
"That is, to us, what you would consider a breach of that regulation," said NFF general secretary Mohammed Sanusi upon revealing that Nigeria had lodged an official complaint.
The players in question were not named. However, there are a number of candidates in the DR Congo squad, including a few European-born players who switched to represent DR Congo and appeared in their qualifier against Nigeria, including Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Arthur Masuaku, Cedric Bakambu, Gael Kakuta, and Michel-Ange Balikwisha.
MORE: Everything you need to know about the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Playoffs
What are FIFA rules on dual nationality?
While FIFA's regulations around players obtaining nationality therein, and therefore eligibility for, a certain nation seem complicated, they are actually quite simple in most cases.
As FIFA's regulations state, "Any person holding a permanent nationality that is not dependent on residence in a certain country is eligible to play for the representative teams of the association of that country."
Essentially, if you legally obtained a passport for citizenship in a particular nation, you are eligible to represent that nation should you pass all the remaining requirements laid out by FIFA. While there are sometimes distinctions between "nationality" and "citizenship," those are rare occurrences.
However, players acquiring new nationality during the course of their lives must also meet one of FIFA's "genuine link" stipulations. These are:
- He was born on the territory of the relevant association
- His biological mother or biological father was born on the territory of the relevant association
- His grandmother or grandfather was born on the territory of the relevant association
- He has lived on the territory of the relevant association:
- for players that began living on the territory before the age of 10: at least three years
- for players that began living on the territory between the age of 10 and 18: at least five years
- these individuals must demonstrate that the move to the territory of the association was not for the purpose of participating for its representative teams
- for players that began living on the territory from the age of 18: at least five years.
In this particular case, players receiving DR Congo nationality must follow the country's normal process of receiving citizenship, which includes renouncing their previous citizenship.
Could Nigeria take DR Congo's place in World Cup playoffs?
If FIFA determine that these players in question did in fact fail to complete the proper requirements for gaining DR Congo citizenship, then a few things could potentially take place.
It's possible that FIFA deem any match these players have appeared in to be in violation, and thus DR Congo would forfeit the matches. This could be incredibly damaging to the national team, as some of these individuals — Arthur Masuaku, for example — have racked up a significant cap tally.
It's also possible that FIFA could decide this is an impractical punishment, and instead they could simply sanction DR Congo moving forward, with a points deduction or other restrictions on future participation.
Should DR Congo be punished retroactively, it could result in Nigeria being given passage to the intercontinental playoff instead of Congo, but that feels like a major step for FIFA to take.
AllSportsPeople has reached out to FIFA for comment, but had not received a response at the time of publication.
When are the World Cup playoffs?
The FIFA Intercontinental Playoff will take place during the March international window.
The semifinals will be played on March 26, while the final of each pathway will take place on March 31.
Right now, DR Congo are slated to play in the Pathway 1 final against the winner of the semifinal between New Caledonia and Jamaica.
2026 World Cup co-host Mexico will host the Intercontinental Playoff, with one pathway held at Estadio Akron in Zapopan, where DR Congo is scheduled to play, and the other held at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe.