Pecohub The Nigeria Football Federation’s protest against the Democratic Republic of Congo over an allegedly ineligible player was reportedly sent to the wrong email channel, according to a new report citing a source within Nigeria’s National Sports Commission.
The claim adds a new dimension to the controversy surrounding FIFA’s rejection of Nigeria’s complaint following the Super Eagles’ defeat to DR Congo in the 2026 World Cup African play-off.
According to OwnGoalNigeria, FIFA cited the fact that the NFF sent its petition to the FIFA Secretary General’s office rather than the designated legal portal as one of the technical grounds for rejecting the complaint. The report attributed the information to a senior NSC source.
The report also said FIFA considered the petition to have been filed after the applicable deadline.
Nigeria had challenged the eligibility of players used by DR Congo after the Leopards defeated the Super Eagles 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the November 2025 play-off final in Rabat, Morocco.
The controversy intensified after reports by The New York Times and Le Monde indicated that FIFA officials had determined that DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi had not completed the required process to change his international association from France to DR Congo before appearing in the qualifying campaign.
FIFA nevertheless rejected Nigeria’s protest. The NFF subsequently confirmed that it was dissatisfied with the decision and had begun an appeal process.
The latest claim about the email channel has not been independently confirmed by FIFA or the NFF in the sources reviewed. FIFA has publicly maintained that its disciplinary committee ruled Nigeria’s protest inadmissible, while the NFF has pursued the matter through the available appeal procedures.
