The world football governing body, Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), allowed DR Congo to escape disciplinary action for fielding an ineligible player in a 2026 World Cup qualifier against Nigeria, a new report has revealed.
According to The New York Times, DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi-Nzau was ineligible to play against Nigeria’s qualifying play-off, but FIFA rejected the Super Eagles’ complaint on technical grounds.
The report, published on Tuesday, said documents reviewed by the newspaper showed that Mpasi-Nzau, a former France youth international, had not completed the required paperwork to switch his international allegiance to DR Congo.
Mpasi-Nzau played all 120 minutes when DR Congo eliminated Nigeria from the World Cup qualification race in November 2025, winning 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the continental play-off final.
Nigeria subsequently lodged a complaint with FIFA challenging the goalkeeper’s eligibility.
According to The New York Times, the FIFA committee handling the complaint considered recommending that the match be awarded to Nigeria. Such a decision would have sent the Super Eagles through to face Jamaica in the intercontinental play-off.
The committee also reportedly considered taking no action because Nigeria had submitted its complaint after the stipulated deadline.
FIFA ultimately rejected Nigeria’s appeal on technical grounds.
The report said the decision meant Nigeria missed a second consecutive World Cup, having failed to qualify for the tournament for the first time since its debut in 1994.
Former Nigeria Football Federation president Ibrahim Gusau criticised FIFA’s handling of the case, saying the organisation disclosed only its judgment without revealing details of its findings.
“They just kept quiet, and they can’t tell anyone because they know it’s going to be a serious crisis for them,” Gusau was quoted as saying.
The report also raised questions about the relationship between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Véron Mosengo-Omba, president of the DR Congo football federation.
It alleged that punishing DR Congo could have strained the relationship between the two officials, with Mosengo-Omba having been elected to lead the Congolese federation two months after the country secured its World Cup qualification.
The revelations come as Infantino faces fresh scrutiny over his leadership of FIFA and prepares to meet African football officials in Cape Verde this week.
The FIFA president is expected to seek support for his re-election bid from Africa, which has 54 votes in FIFA elections, second only to UEFA’s 55.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
