FIFA Sanctions on Malaysia Boost Nigeria’s Petition Against DR Congo

Nigeria’s hopes of securing a favorable ruling from FIFA over its petition against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) have received a major lift following the world football governing body’s recent decision to sanction Malaysia for fielding ineligible players.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had earlier approached FIFA after the Super Eagles were eliminated by DR Congo on penalties in the final African playoff for a place in the six-nation Intercontinental Playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The decisive encounter was played in Morocco in November 2025.

In its petition, the NFF alleged that DR Congo fielded five ineligible players who hold dual citizenship, a situation Nigeria argues is contrary to DR Congo’s constitution, which prohibits citizens from possessing passports of other countries. The federation further claimed that the documentation used to secure clearance for the players was improperly obtained.

FIFA’s recent ruling against Malaysia has significantly strengthened Nigeria’s case. The world football body fined the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), overturned the results of several international friendly matches, and handed Malaysia 3–0 defeats after investigations revealed that seven naturalised players had used falsified documentation. The fallout from the scandal led to the resignation of the entire FAM executive committee.

Reacting to the development, Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, expressed confidence in Nigeria’s petition, describing it as strong, credible, and well-founded, especially in light of FIFA’s stance in the Malaysia case.

FIFA is expected to deliver its verdict on the Nigeria–DR Congo matter in the coming weeks, ahead of the Intercontinental Playoffs scheduled for March.

The Super Eagles, who finished third at the recently concluded 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, earned widespread praise for their performances. Nigeria’s fluid, disciplined style of play drew comparisons with the iconic 1994 squad, leaving many football observers surprised that such a team could potentially miss out on the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, set to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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