Fresh revelations have raised questions over FIFA’s handling of player eligibility after documents reportedly showed that the governing body had determined that the Democratic Republic of Congo fielded an ineligible player during its 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, Trybal News reports.
According to documents and correspondence reviewed by The New York Times, the case centred on DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who had previously represented France at youth level.
FIFA officials reportedly found that the necessary documentation required to complete Mpasi’s change of international allegiance had not been finalised.
The issue reportedly came to FIFA’s attention after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) lodged a complaint following Nigeria’s defeat to DR Congo in the World Cup qualification playoffs.
The documents reportedly show that FIFA considered several possible courses of action, including awarding the match to Nigeria, imposing a financial penalty on DR Congo, replacing DR Congo with Nigeria in the playoff against Jamaica, or taking no action because Nigeria’s complaint was submitted after the applicable deadline.
FIFA ultimately dismissed Nigeria’s case on a technicality, allowing DR Congo to continue in the qualification process.
DR Congo went on to defeat Jamaica in the decisive playoff and secure a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending a 52-year wait for an appearance at the tournament.
The reported handling of the case has since raised questions about FIFA’s approach to player eligibility violations, particularly in light of previous cases in which sporting sanctions were imposed.
In 2016, FIFA awarded Turkey a 3–0 victory after Greece fielded a player who was deemed ineligible because of his previous international involvement with Australia at youth level.
Two years later, FIFA altered the results of two of Bolivia’s World Cup qualifying matches after determining that Bolivia had fielded a player who had previously represented Paraguay.
The latest revelations could have significant implications for Nigerian football. Nigeria’s defeat to DR Congo contributed to the resignation of the Nigeria Football Federation board.
Former NFF president Ibrahim Musa Gusau said he was informed that Nigeria’s complaint had been dismissed on technical grounds but claimed he was not made aware of FIFA’s reported finding regarding Mpasi’s eligibility.
Gusau has subsequently called for an investigation, alleging that information concerning the player’s eligibility could have had significant consequences for Nigeria’s World Cup qualification campaign.
FIFA, according to the report, has not directly denied the reported finding regarding Mpasi. The governing body has maintained that Nigeria’s complaint was dismissed on a technicality.
The development is expected to intensify calls for greater transparency in FIFA’s handling of eligibility disputes and could reignite debate over Nigeria’s controversial exit from the 2026 World Cup qualification race.
