The African World Cup play-offs are in turmoil over a lawsuit filed by Nigeria.

African football is in turmoil as Nigeria has filed a complaint with FIFA, accusing the Democratic Republic of Congo of using ineligible players in the regional play-off round.

Nigerian players failed in their bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

According to Arise News , Nigeria has officially filed a complaint regarding the African play-off matches that took place a few weeks ago. The "Super Eagles" claim that the Democratic Republic of Congo registered and used players who had not completed the necessary legal procedures regarding citizenship in the decisive match.

The complaint centers around up to nine players who allegedly changed their nationality but failed to complete the necessary administrative procedures before taking to the field. The list of those named includes several familiar players currently playing in Europe, such as Axel Tuanzebe (formerly English), Arthur Masuaku (France), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (England), and Noah Sadiki (Belgium).

On the Democratic Republic of Congo's side, the main argument is that FIFA approved the nationality conversion, thereby allowing the aforementioned players to qualify for the African play-off final. A victory against Nigeria secured the Central African team a place in the intercontinental play-off, where they will face either New Caledonia or Jamaica. This match is scheduled to take place in Mexico during the FIFA Days in March.

However, Nigeria argues that the issue is not solely about FIFA's approval. According to the "Super Eagles," the Democratic Republic of Congo's constitution does not recognize dual citizenship, while many of the players involved have not officially renounced their previous citizenship. This is considered a key point leading Nigeria to believe their opponents violated regulations, despite the fact that the documents had been approved by FIFA at the international competition level.

FIFA has not yet issued an official response to this complaint. Observers believe the review process could be lengthy, as the case involves both national nationality laws and international player eligibility regulations.

Regardless of the outcome, the incident has sparked a major debate in African football. If Nigeria succeeds, the scenario of the Democratic Republic of Congo being disqualified from the intercontinental play-offs is not impossible, leading to one of the most serious legal controversies of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in the African region.

Source: https://znews.vn/vong-play-off-world-cup-chau-phi-day-song-vi-don-kien-cua-nigeria-post1611954.html