Nigeria await FIFA verdict on World Cup lifeline

Nigeria’s Super Eagles are still in contention for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as FIFA reviews an eligibility protest against DR Congo following their November 2025 playoff defeat in Africa.

The Leopards edged Nigeria 4–3 on penalties in Rabat, but the NFF quickly challenged the result, alleging several Congolese players may not have met nationality rules.

A FIFA ruling could overturn the outcome and award Nigeria a technical win, potentially sending them into the intercontinental playoffs. However, such reversals are rare and typically require clear violations in player documentation.

“We are still waiting for FIFA’s final communication,” a Nigerian official said, urging patience among fans.

Predictive analysis suggests only a 20–30% chance of a favourable verdict, with FIFA often backing players already cleared to switch nationality.

Meanwhile, both federations were recently fined over fan misconduct during the match, a separate issue from the eligibility case.

“We followed all procedures,” a DR Congo source insisted, maintaining confidence in the original result.