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NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko Reaffirms Nigeria’s Legal Case Against DR Congo
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, has reiterated Nigeria’s firm legal stance against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) following allegations that the Leopards fielded ineligible players during the 2026 FIFA World Cup African playoff.
Dikko stressed that Nigeria’s petition is not driven by rivalry or emotion, but is instead strictly rooted in FIFA statutes and the laws governing international football.
According to him, DR Congo could face serious sanctions, including match forfeiture, should FIFA establish that any violations occurred.
“Our case is very tight,” Dikko said. “We are not sore losers. This is simply about the law and due process.”
He revealed that Nigeria has strong reasons to believe proper procedures were not followed, raising concerns that some players’ eligibility may have been misrepresented to FIFA in order to secure international clearance.
“There are strong suspicions that certain procedures were not properly followed in line with the laws of the game. They may have misrepresented their true status to FIFA to obtain player clearances,” he stated.
Dikko also referenced a recent FIFA ruling against Malaysia, highlighting it as a relevant precedent.
“Just two days ago, FIFA ruled against Malaysia on a similar issue. They were found to have illegally procured passports for players, and as a result, they forfeited all matches played with those players,” he added.
Nigeria is seeking strict application of FIFA regulations as the world football governing body continues its review of the complaint. The outcome could have significant implications for Africa’s representation in the inter-confederation playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
