In a move that has sent shockwaves through African football, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially explained why the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) faces inevitable FIFA sanctions. Following Nigeria’s heartbreaking penalty shootout loss in the November playoffs, the NFF has pivoted from the pitch to the courtroom, filing a formal complaint that alleges “fraudulent” player registrations.
According to NFF General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, the case hinges on nine DR Congo players—including high-profile stars like Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe—who reportedly hold dual nationality.While FIFA usually clears players based on having a national passport, Nigeria argues that DR Congo “deceived” the governing body because Congolese domestic law strictly prohibits dual citizenship.The NFF contends that because these players never formally renounced their European passports, their Congolese passports were obtained illegally, rendering them ineligible to play.
