Nigeria are considering seeking compensation from FIFA as new allegations have arisen that DR Congo fielded an ineligible player in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
A senior official in Nigeria’s National Sports Commission (NSC) said the country had been vindicated after The New York Times and Le Monde reported that FIFA’s legal committee ruled DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi was ineligible because he had not finalized his switch from France to the Congo.
According to the reports, which were based on internal documents from FIFA, the lawyers reportedly uncovered the case in March and it was fully revealed by the end of May, before DR Congo played in the intercontinental playoff against Jamaica. The DR Congo earned their place at the World Cup as a result.
“Nothing has been decided so far, but we will take a very serious look at suing FIFA for all the economic damage this has done to Nigeria,” the NSC official told ESPN.
Nigeria were knocked out of the competition by DR Congo in November after they were 1-1 at the end of the second leg and lost 4-3 on penalties.
The NFF already expressed doubts over the candidacy of a good number of the DR Congo boys.
“They have now been proved wrong,” the NSC official told AFP.
The official also urged FIFA to resubmit the case, contending that the new evidence is more recent than Nigeria’s initial complaint.
The official said Nigeria will be requesting for a FIFA investigation as it is a matter of fraud and ‘there is no time limit of offense’ in dealing with fraud.
