The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has said Nigeria has a very strong case before FIFA over the alleged use of ineligible players by DR Congo in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Dikko spoke on Friday during an interview on television, following reports that FIFA is investigating DR Congo over the players they fielded against Nigeria.
According to him, Nigeria’s complaint is not because of the playoff defeat, but something football authorities noticed long before the match was played.
He explained that Nigerian officials became concerned after DR Congo released their squad list on November 1, ahead of the November 13 playoff match. Some players listed were said to be of different nationalities and had not yet received FIFA clearance at that time.
Dikko said this raised serious questions, especially because the players only got clearance a day before the match.
He added that FIFA rules on player eligibility are very strict, recalling how South Africa once lost three points for using an ineligible player.
After Nigeria lost the playoff, Dikko said the country consulted legal and international sports law experts, who advised that there may have been misrepresentation in how DR Congo got FIFA approval for the players.
“It is the duty of every football federation to follow the law when issuing passports and changing nationality. If the process is not legal, it affects everything,” Dikko said.
He confirmed that Nigeria has officially reported the matter to FIFA, and the world football body is currently reviewing the case.
While admitting that Nigeria lost the match, Dikko insisted the country is not being a sore loser, but simply standing by the rules of the game.
According to him, early findings suggest that some procedures may not have been properly followed, and Nigeria is confident FIFA will take the right decision.
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