The federal government through the National Sports Commission chairman, Shehu Dikko, has expressed confidence in Nigeria’s case against DR Congo over the 2026 World Cup playoffs in which the Super Eagles lost to the East African country in the final of the CAF Playoff held in Morocco in November.
Nigeria dragged Congo to the Federation of International Football, FIFA, on grounds that nine Congolese players that played part in the CAF Playoff are ineligible.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in the petition argued that players like Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe, who featured in the playoff, should not have been cleared to represent DR Congo.
It contended that the concerned players hold European and French passports, adding that dual citizenship has no place in the Congolese law.
Speaking on the matter on ARISE TV, the NSC chairman declared that Nigeria’s case against DR Congo was not something to dismiss. Rather, an undeniable fact that may lead to FIFA disqualifying Congo, a decision that would be beneficial to the Super Eagles.
“Our case is very tight, we’re not sore losers, this is part of the law,” Dikko told Arise TV.
“There are suspicions that some things have not been done right in accordance with the laws of the game. They have probably misrepresented their position to FIFA to obtain those clearances. Just two days ago, FIFA ruled against Malaysia on the same issue because they procured the passports of their players illegally, and now they have forfeited all the matches they have played,” Dikko stated.
On DR Congo’s part, the country has dismissed Nigeria’s petition, accusing the Super Eagles of attempting to qualify “from the back door.”
In a statement released on its official Instagram page, the Congolese team declared, “If you can’t win on the pitch don’t try to win from the back door. The World Cup has to be played with dignity and confidence. Not with lawyers’ tricks. Bad losers.”
