Nigeria swing back into World Cup spot chase

After failing to secure direct qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Nigeria are refusing to back down and are pursuing an alternative route to the tournament.

The Super Eagles competed in Group C of the African qualifying campaign, where Bafana Bafana finished top of the group to earn automatic qualification.

Nigeria were handed another opportunity to qualify after advancing to the CAF Playoffs as one of the four best second-placed teams across the groups.

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However, their hopes of reaching the world's biggest football tournament, set to be played in North America, were dashed following a defeat to DR Congo in the CAF Playoffs final.

As a result, Congo are set to represent Africa in a six-team intercontinental playoff scheduled for March 2026, a mini-tournament that will determine the final two qualifiers for the World Cup.

Despite this outcome, Nigeria believe they should replace Congo in the intercontinental playoff. The Nigeria Football Federation have alleged that DR Congo fielded ineligible players during the playoff final.

Several names have reportedly been mentioned in the controversy, including Axel Tuanzebe, Arthur Masuaku, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Noah Sadiki, all of whom have been linked with other national teams earlier in their careers.

The NFF are said to have lodged a formal complaint with FIFA, arguing that the players did not fully meet nationality requirements under Congolese law, despite reportedly being cleared by FIFA on the basis of passport documentation.

According to NFF Secretary General Mohammed Sanusi, FIFA were misled into declaring the players eligible to represent DR Congo.

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"FIFA were deceived into clearing those players because it is not FIFA’s responsibility to interpret or enforce domestic citizenship laws," Sanusi said, per Score Nigeria.

"DR Congo law does not permit dual citizenship, yet some of the players involved reportedly hold dual nationality."

FIFA are reportedly investigating the matter, and it remains to be seen how it will affect Congo's place in the World Cup play-offs.

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2026 Fifa World Cup 2026 Fifa World Cup Qualifiers Congo DR Nigerian National Team