Nigeria considers FIFA compensation claim after DR Congo eligibility revelations

A top Nigerian National Sports Commission official says Nigeria has been vindicated over their challenge to DR Congo’s use of ineligible players in World Cup qualifying and are “exploring all options,” including seeking compensation from FIFA for missing the 2026 World Cup.

The NSC’s position comes after reporting by The New York Times and Le Monde on allegations that FIFA’s own legal officials determined DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi was ineligible because his change of international association from France had not been completed.

Both publications, which reviewed internal FIFA documents, reported that FIFA lawyers discovered the problem in March, before DR Congo’s intercontinental playoff against Jamaica, but no disciplinary action was taken. DR Congo went on to qualify for the World Cup.

“Nothing has been decided yet, but we will seriously consider seeking compensation from FIFA for all of the economic losses this has cost Nigeria,” the NSC official told ESPN.

“The revenue that the Super Eagles and the NFF would have received from participating at the World Cup, the exposure that players would have got, transfers, the sponsorship fees, even the boost to the Nigerian economy.

“We are exploring all our options as a country, and nothing is off the table.”

Meanwhile, the Jamaican Football Federation (JFF) said: “CONCACAF takes player eligibility matters very seriously and expects the applicable regulations and procedures to be applied consistently and fairly in all competitions.

“Any concerns regarding player eligibility, particularly those that may affect the integrity of a competition or the interests of one of our member associations, should be thoroughly reviewed and addressed through FIFA’s appropriate governance and disciplinary bodies, in accordance with established regulations and due process.”

There is precedent for FIFA compensating a federation following a disputed World Cup elimination, although under substantially different circumstances.

FIFA paid the Football Association of Ireland €5 million after Ireland threatened legal action following its elimination by France in qualification for the 2010 World Cup. Thierry Henry handled the ball before setting up William Gallas for the goal that sent France through.

The payment was initially structured as an interest-free loan and later written off. FIFA subsequently described the arrangement as a one-off.

Nigeria’s potential case would be different because its argument centres on FIFA’s administration and enforcement of its own eligibility regulations.

The NFF first raised eligibility concerns after DR Congo eliminated the Super Eagles from the African World Cup playoffs in November. The teams drew 1-1 after extra time before DR Congo won 4-3 on penalties.

The original complaint was wider than the issue subsequently discovered with Mpasi, with the NFF alleging that several DR Congo players were improperly cleared by FIFA because of questions over their nationality status under Congolese law.

Then-NFF president Ibrahim Gusau said at the time that FIFA had been misled when approving the players.

“The Congolese rules say you cannot have dual nationality,” Gusau said. “FIFA regulations say once you have the passport of your country, you are eligible. As far as we are concerned, they are eligible; that is why they are cleared by FIFA. But our contention is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them.”

The NSC official said the Mpasi revelations supported Nigeria’s argument that FIFA should have investigated the eligibility questions regardless of the procedural status of Nigeria’s correspondence.

“Nigeria has been vindicated,” the official said. “When we said we had written a petition to FIFA, people accused us of all sorts of things. I think this has proven that we were correct that DRC fielded ineligible players.

“We did not need to file a protest. So the issue of filing late did not arise,” the official said. “We only sent in a petition to remind them to apply the rules, the same way they did when South Africa fielded an ineligible player, and when we fielded an ineligible player during the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

“By rule, these sanctions kick in automatically once it is identified.”

Bolivia forfeited two 2018 World Cup qualifiers for fielding Nelson Cabrera, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport later confirming FIFA’s authority to open disciplinary proceedings on its own initiative. Greece was also sanctioned in 2016 for fielding Apostolos Giannou without completing his change of association from Australia.

More recently, South Africa forfeited a 2026 World Cup qualifier against Lesotho after fielding the suspended Teboho Mokoena.

In addition to potentially demanding compensation, Nigeria now wants FIFA to reopen the DR Congo case, with the NSC official arguing that the latest evidence raises questions that extend beyond just the procedural handling of the NFF’s original petition.

“Nigeria will be seeking for FIFA to review the case because the case is about fraud and fraud does not have a time limit for punishment,” the official said. “DRC should be made to face consequences for what they have done, to serve as a lesson to others who may want to try the same thing in future.”