Nigeria vs DR Congo: FIFA Reportedly Dismissed NFF Protest Over Wrong Filing Channel

Nigeria’s dispute with the Democratic Republic of Congo over an alleged ineligible player has taken a fresh turn following reports that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) submitted its protest through the wrong channel.

Reports citing FIFA documents say the governing body’s legal officials found that DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi had not completed the required process to switch his international allegiance from France before representing the country. The Guardian reported the development on October 6, 2026.

Nigeria had challenged DR Congo’s participation after the Super Eagles lost the 2025 African play-off final on penalties, a result that ended their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup through that route.

However, FIFA dismissed Nigeria’s complaint on procedural grounds, according to reports on the dispute.

A subsequent report by Vanguard said one of the reasons cited for the dismissal was that the NFF allegedly sent its petition to the office of the FIFA Secretary General rather than submitting it through the designated legal portal. The report also said FIFA considered the complaint to have been filed late.

The reported filing error has raised further questions about how Nigeria’s protest was handled and whether the federation’s submission met FIFA’s procedural requirements.

However, the claim that the NFF used the wrong email channel has not been independently confirmed by FIFA or the NFF in the sources cited in the reports.

The controversy has also renewed scrutiny of FIFA’s handling of the eligibility issue, particularly following reports that its legal officials had identified concerns about Mpasi’s international allegiance status.

Nigeria’s National Sports Commission is reportedly considering possible options in response to the case, including compensation. Details of any formal action or the basis for a potential compensation claim have not been established in the information available.

The dispute places renewed attention on the importance of complying with FIFA’s filing procedures and deadlines when challenging player eligibility or other matters affecting international competitions.

Neither the reported procedural explanation nor the allegations concerning Mpasi’s eligibility should be treated as a final, independently verified determination of all the issues in the case.