File photo – The Nigeria Super Eagles
From our Sports desk, Benin
World Football governing body, FIFA would on Monday, February 16, take decisions on the petition Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) filed against the Democratic Republic of Congo ahead of the intercontinental playoffs next month.
The NFF in its petition to FIFA complained the DR Congo fielded ineligible players against the Super Eagles in the playoffs between them last November in Morocco.
According to reliable media reports, the NFF filed the formal complaint on December 15, 2025, alleging that six DR Congo players who featured in the November 2025 African playoff final were ineligible due to recent switches in international allegiance.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in its petition alleged that DR Congo’s officials deceived FIFA using forged documents to clear several players who at the time of participating in the November play-offs were still holding dual nationality contrary to the established rules.
NFF insists those clearances were gained with fraudulent documents submitted by the central African nation.
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The Super Eagles hope of going further in the push to qualify for this year’s edition of football world cup (senior men), crashed after the team suffered a 4-3 lost on penalties to the DR Congo team after a 1-1 draw of 90 minutes play and extra time of 30 minutes.
Amidst doubts amongst Nigerians and global fans of the Super Eagles, NFF General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi has expressed strong confidence in the federation’s petition.
“We have a good case,” Sanusi stated. “We do not venture into what would be an exercise in futility. As far as we are concerned, we have a strong case, and we are awaiting FIFA’s decision on the complaints we have lodged.”
Also, Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi echoed the optimism, telling reporters: “We are still waiting; hopefully, we can go to the World Cup.”
The NFF is hopeful that FIFA’s decision on Monday could favour the Super Eagles to participate in the six team Intercontinental Playoffs due to hold next month in Mexico.
A top finish in that playoff would secure one of the remaining African slots at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Nigeria’s qualification hopes now rest entirely on the outcome of Monday’s high-stakes FIFA meeting, with millions of fans and the entire Nigerian football community awaiting the verdict that could rewrite the Super Eagles’ World Cup story.
DR Congo suspected underground moves ahead of FIFA verdict
DR Congo National football team
Rumours are rife that the Congolese Football Association is allegedly doing everything within its powers to hand twist FIFA into ruling in their favour.
Confederation of African Football (CAF) secretary-general, Véron Mosengo-Omba who allegedly also a close associate of FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Allegedly, they strongly rely on the presence of Confederation of African Football (CAF) secretary-general, Véron Mosengo-Omba, a citizen of their country, to help scale the wall Nigeria’s petition has erected between them and further push for qualification for the world cup.
According to Sports247 reports, the impending FIFA verdict comes four months after the CAF scribe was allegedly ‘accused of running the organisation as personal ownership… where employees are fired for speaking out against him.’
A report in The Guardian by Ed Aarons and Romain Molina on Tuesday 14 October, 2025 added in part, “Several former and current members of staff (said) there is an atmosphere of intimidation at the Caf headquarters in Cairo, where Mosengo-Omba is accused of sidelining colleagues and silencing whistleblowers.”
His influence is what DR Congo’s football authority is allegedly now relying on to swing FIFA’s decision in their favour, even as observers believe the case could still drag beyond the world football body into the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).
An online report adds; “Véron Mosengo-Omba, the General Secretary of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) appointed in March 2021, is a Swiss-Congolese national born in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“He previously worked as the Chief Member Associations Officer at FIFA before taking the role of CAF’s General Secretary four years ago. He is also a close associate of FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
“According to very reliable sources, Mosengo-Omba and top football executives from Congo and some Francophone countries are allegedly using their strong influence in FIFA to lobby for a favourable decision in this matter.
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“They know the seriousness of the petition and are scared that FIFA could decide in favour of Nigeria based on leaked information and available evidence. His influence in Africa and World football could come in handy for DR Congo.”
Whoever emerged winner in FIFA ruling picks Africa’s sole ticket for next month’s intercontinental play-off against the winner of Jamaica and New Caledonia.
But FIFA on its part, is convinced that Nigeria has presented a very strong case and will not want to do anything that will rubbish its reputation, knowing that the Nigeria football federation and the Congolese FA, might want to proceed to the Court of Arbitration for Sports in Lucerne Switzerland, if decisions do not go in their favour.
However, reliable sources say the Nigeria football federation and the National Sports commission are not losing any sleep on this matter.
They are confident that they have done thorough investigation and provided the necessary documents and evidence to FIFA.
They also believe that the recent FIFA verdict on Malaysia is a clear indication that the world football governing body does not joke with anything that has to do with players eligibility, especially when there are documented evidence of discrepancies and falsification.
The General Secretary (GS) of the Nigeria football house, Sanusi was quoted to have explained;
“FIFA rules say once you have a passport of your country, you are eligible, and that is why they were cleared.
“But our concern is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them. It is not FIFA’s responsibility to enforce Congo’s domestic regulations; FIFA acts based on what is submitted to it. What we are saying is that the process was fraudulent.”
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