…We’ll Appeal – Sanusi

By Andrew Abah, Abuja 

Football World Governing Body FIFA  has 
rejected the petition filed by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, against Democratic Republic of Congo on the issue of eligibility of some players used by that country in a 2026 FIFA World Cup Playoff match against Nigeria in Rabat, Morocco on 16th November 2025.

“We have received the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee on our petition, but we are not satisfied with the decision, which rejected our petition. I want to assure Nigerians that the NFF has immediately commenced the process of appealing the decision,” said NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.

The NFF had presented a petition to world football governing body, FIFA days after the said match, based on perceived fraud in the issuance of passports that qualified a number of players of the Democratic Republic of Congo for the Play-offs.

The match, played at the Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, was the Final of the African Play-offs. The Democratic Republic of Congo won in a sudden-death penalty shootout, after both teams were tied at 1-1 following regulation and extra time.