Nigeria’s Protest Prompts FIFA Inquiry into DR Congo Players’ Passports
FIFA has opened an investigation into how several players represented the Democratic Republic of Congo during the 2026 World Cup playoff against Nigeria, despite questions surrounding the validity of their passports.
The world football governing body has contacted the Federation of Congolese Football Association (FECOFA) following allegations that ineligible players were fielded in the playoff held in Morocco in November 2025.
DR Congo defeated Nigeria 4-3 on penalties to advance to the intercontinental playoff, where they are set to face the winner between Jamaica and New Caledonia on March 31.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) lodged a formal protest, claiming that FECOFA misled FIFA into clearing seven players who should have been ruled ineligible under Congolese law.
According to reports, the NFF insists that the players failed to renounce their European citizenship before obtaining Congolese passports, a requirement under DR Congo’s constitution.
Among those named are former Manchester United players Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe, who were alleged to have retained their European passports while representing DR Congo.
ESPN reported that six players were involved in the controversy, while the BBC noted that the NFF’s argument centers on violations of domestic law, regardless of FIFA’s initial clearance.
FIFA is now examining the process by which the passports were acquired and whether they complied with national regulations.
A FIFA official highlighted that the issue is not merely about possessing a passport but whether it was obtained legally under the country’s laws.
The official cited Malaysia as a precedent, where players improperly acquired passports, leading to sanctions, a scenario that could potentially apply to DR Congo.
While FIFA rules allow players with roots in another country to switch allegiance, the investigation will determine whether DR Congo’s case meets both sporting and national eligibility standards.
