The Nigeria Football Federation's protest against the eligibility of a Democratic Republic of the Congo player has been dismissed by FIFA due to a technical issue. According to reports, the NFF sent its petition to the wrong email address, specifically to the office of FIFA's General Secretary instead of the designated legal portal. This development has raised questions about FIFA's handling of Nigeria's complaint over DR Congo's use of goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi during the 2026 World Cup qualifying play-offs.
Nigeria's protest centred on allegations that DR Congo fielded players who had not completed the necessary requirements to represent the country. The controversy particularly concerns Mpasi, who previously represented France at youth level. Reports by international media said FIFA officials had identified concerns about whether he had completed the required process to switch his international allegiance to DR Congo. Mpasi featured when DR Congo eliminated Nigeria from the African play-off final in November 2025.
The match between Nigeria and DR Congo ended 1–1 after extra time before DR Congo won 4–3 on penalties, advancing to the intercontinental play-off. Nigeria subsequently challenged the eligibility of DR Congo players, but FIFA dismissed its protest on procedural grounds. The email controversy follows reports that FIFA's legal officials had privately raised concerns about Mpasi's eligibility but that the governing body ultimately rejected Nigeria's complaint.
According to a report by OwnGoal Nigeria, citing an unnamed senior official of the National Sports Commission, FIFA considered the use of the General Secretary's email instead of its legal portal one of the reasons for rejecting the petition. The NSC source questioned the explanation, arguing that formal correspondence is often routed through the General Secretary's office before being directed to the appropriate department.
The NSC source also criticised FIFA's position that Nigeria filed its complaint outside the prescribed deadline, arguing that the seriousness of an alleged eligibility breach warranted consideration. However, the claim about the specific email channel is attributed to an unnamed NSC source and has not been independently confirmed by FIFA in the reports reviewed.
FIFA's handling of the case has come under scrutiny, with reports that the governing body's legal officials had considered several possible responses, including awarding the match to Nigeria, imposing sanctions on DR Congo or taking no action because of the timing of Nigeria's complaint. FIFA ultimately dismissed the protest on procedural grounds, maintaining that its disciplinary bodies operate independently and decide cases according to the applicable regulations and the specific facts presented.
DR Congo's victory over Nigeria in the African play-off final ended the Super Eagles' route through that stage of qualification, while the Congolese team subsequently secured a place at the 2026 World Cup. The dispute has raised questions about how FIFA applies its eligibility rules and complaint procedures, particularly when allegations concern a player's international clearance.
Key points
- FIFA cites wrong email address as reason for dismissing Nigeria's protest over DR Congo's use of goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.
- Nigeria's protest centred on allegations that DR Congo fielded players who had not completed the necessary requirements to represent the country.
- The dispute has raised questions about how FIFA applies its eligibility rules and complaint procedures.
