Nigeria dey hope to revive dia chances of reaching next year World Cup after submitting one complaint to Fifa wey allege say di Democratic Republic of Congo field ineligible players - players wey no qualify for last month African play-off final.

DR Congo beat Super Eagles on penalties to book dia place for March intercontinental qualifier, wey go allocate di final two places up for grabs for di tournament for Canada, Mexico and di United States.

But Nigeria claim of "fraud" centres on one group of players wey recently switch dia international allegiance to dia opponents.

Di Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) believe say players such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe, both of wey feature for di game for Morocco, bin dey ineligible because Congolese law no dey allow dual citizenship.

But di Congolese Football Federation (Fecofa) don reject NFF challenge.

"Our contention na say Fifa bin dey deceived into clearing dem," NFF general secretary Mohammed Sanusi tok.

"Di Congolese rule (law) say you no fit get dual nationality, but some of dia players get European and French passports.

"Wetin we consider to be a breach of (Fifa) regulations dey dia. We dey say e dey fraudulent."

NFF say e don submit supporting documents and legal arguments to world football governing body.

BBC don contact Fifa for comment and dey wait to hear back.

Fecofa, however, don brand di petition attempt to "win via di back door".

"Dem must play di World Cup wit dignity and confidence. Not wit lawyer tricks," na so one post ontop di Leopard dia official social media tok.

Di message also describe Nigeria as "bad losers" and dismiss di complaint as poor sportsmanship.

E don hapun before? Plus possible outcome

Fifa statutes set out di conditions under which a player fit change di national association dem represent.

Under dis rules, a player fit ask to change di association dem dey eligible to represent only once, and di process require a written and substantiated request wey must dey approved by Fifa Players Status Committee.

While Fifa requires a player to hold a passport for di new nation dem wish to represent, e dey possible for dem to also hold anoda passport.

But dis no be di case under Congolese law.

Wen a formal protest reach Fifa, several possible outcomes na im dey:

Dismissal: Fifa fit find di NFF evidence say e no dey sufficient and close di case, leaving DR Congo World Cup qualification intact.

Investigation and administrative sanction: Fifa fit investigate and, if dem find breaches - error- for di clearance process, sanction di federation (eg fines, warnings) but leave results unchanged.

Sporting sanctions: For di most serious cases, Fifa or di Confederation of African Football fit order make dem forfeit - forget - or award di match to di oda side, or deduct points in group-stage contexts. Historically, dem dey apply such sporting sanctions wen dem clearly break administrative or player-registration rules, such as wit falsification or deliberate misrepresentation.

For one recent example, Fifa deduct six points from Equatorial Guinea during di 2026 World Cup qualifiers after dme find say captain Emilio Nsue dey ineligible because of previous appearances for Spain youth teams.

While dem later reverse dat decision, the Equatoguineans no ever receive dia points back.

South Africa also see dia victory against Lesotho for di 2026 World Cup qualifying dey overturned, wey dem also award dia opponents a 3-0 victory, sake of say dem field a suspended player.



Nigeria want Fifa to look into di eligibility of certain players wey DR Congo field for di 2026 World Cup African play-off final




FIfa deduct three points from South Africa during di 2026 World Cup qualifiers for fielding a suspended player