The official in charge of football administration in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Belinda Luntadila Nzuzi, has declined to comment on the players’ eligibility controversy that has rocked the country, one month after DR Congo defeated Nigeria in the final of the African play-off for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr Mohammed Sanusi, confirmed on Tuesday that the federation has initiated a probe into DR Congo’s alleged use of ineligible players during the play-off, a development that could potentially reopen Nigeria’s path to the tournament scheduled to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

DR Congo eliminated Nigeria from the African play-off in November after securing a 4–3 victory via penalty shoot-out in Morocco, a result that ended the Super Eagles’ hopes of progressing to the FIFA intercontinental play-off.

“We’re waiting. The Congolese rules say you cannot have dual citizenship or nationality,” Sanusi said.

“Wan-Bissaka has a European passport; some of them have French passports, others Dutch passports. The rules are very clear, and we have submitted our petition.”

Sanusi explained that while FIFA regulations allow a player to represent a country once he possesses a valid passport, the federation believes the global football body was misled.

“FIFA rules say once you have a passport of your country, you’re 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.”

Another member of the NFF executive board confirmed that the federation had taken all necessary steps to pursue the matter.

“NFF has done the needful. Their constitution does not allow dual citizenship, and about six to nine players had that status during the play-off. That is the loophole we are exploring. Our lawyers must have submitted the relevant documents to FIFA as well.”

While FIFA reportedly cleared the players on the basis that they possessed valid DR Congo passports, it is alleged that the players failed to formally renounce their previous nationalities, contrary to the country’s constitution, which does not permit dual citizenship.

Credit: PUNCH