Nigeria’s footballing governing body is taking its fight to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a final, high-stakes bid to salvage their 2026 World Cup dreams.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed it will appeal FIFA’s decision to dismiss a protest against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The dispute centres on the eligibility of several players—including Premier League defenders Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe—who featured in November’s dramatic play-off final.
The NFF alleges that DR Congo breached FIFA regulations by fielding players whose nationality switches were legally flawed. Under Congolese law, dual citizenship is not officially recognised for adults.
Nigeria argues that because the players did not legally renounce their previous nationalities according to the laws of the land, their registration for “The Leopards” was invalid.
The Super Eagles suffered a crushing exit in that November clash, losing 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.
However, victory in the courtroom could see the result overturned, handing Nigeria a lifeline for the tournament in North America.
The clock is ticking for the Super Eagles legal team. FIFA has already moved forward with its schedule for the Intercontinental Play-offs in Mexico, which are due to begin on 26 March.
As it stands, DR Congo are slated to face either Jamaica or New Caledonia on 31 March.
If the NFF is to reclaim its spot in the qualification pathway, it must secure a ruling from CAS within the next week.
“We are not satisfied with the decision,” said NFF general secretary Mohammed Sanusi. “We have immediately commenced the process of appealing.”
The 2026 World Cup, hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, is the first to feature an expanded 48-team format.
Missing out would be a significant blow to Nigeria, traditionally one of Africa’s powerhouses.
For DR Congo, the inclusion of high-profile stars like Wan-Bissaka was seen as a major coup.
Whether that recruitment was handled within the strict confines of both FIFA and national law is now the multi-million-dollar question facing the arbitrators in Lausanne.
