NIGERIA/CONGO-KINSASHA: WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS - FIFA SANCTIONS NIGERIA, DR CONGO

The Nigeria-DR Congo match has remained a focal point of discussion following the controversial end to Super Eagles' World Cup qualification hopes.

The world football governing body, FIFA, has sanctioned both the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Congolese Football Association following disciplinary incidents recorded during a 2026 World Cup qualifying fixture between the two countries.

According to FIFA's latest disciplinary overview for World Cup qualifying matches, the two football bodies were found guilty of separate infractions during the encounter played on 16 November 2025.

FIFA stated that Nigeria was penalised for a breach relating to order and security at matches, specifically involving the throwing of objects by spectators during the game.

The offence falls under Article 17 and Article 17.2.b of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, for which the NFF was fined 1,000 Swiss Francs.

The Congolese federation, however, received a heavier sanction after supporters were found to have used laser pointers or similar electronic devices during the match.

The act contravenes Article 17.2.d of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, leading FIFA to impose a fine of 5,000 Swiss Francs on the DR Congo Football Association.

FIFA emphasised that disciplinary decisions are taken based on the circumstances of each case and may still be subject to appeal.

The governing body also noted that the summary of sanctions released publicly is mainly intended to inform the media, while the official legal decisions are communicated directly to the concerned federations.

Wider context

The Nigeria-DR Congo match has remained a focal point of discussion following the controversial end to Nigeria's World Cup qualification hopes.

"As far as FIFA is concerned, once you have the passport of your country, you are eligible. But our concern is that FIFA may have been deceived into clearing them," he said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, has urged caution against interpreting recent developments as a final verdict on Nigeria's complaint.

Mr Dikko believes the listing of DR Congo among the teams preparing for the intercontinental play-off tournament does not mean that FIFA has already made a final decision on Nigeria's petition.

"As far as we know, FIFA is yet to give its verdict," Mr Dikko said, according to ThisDay Newspaper. "We are monitoring the situation closely.

"The fact that DR Congo appears among the six nations to compete for the final two spots in the playoff is not enough to jump to the conclusion that FIFA has thrown out Nigeria's petition. Some nations are also preparing for friendly matches. Things will change as soon as the FIFA verdict comes out."

Nigeria's hopes of progressing further in the qualification series were dashed last November after the Super Eagles lost to DR Congo on penalties in the final round of the African qualifying play-offs.

Following that defeat, the NFF submitted a formal petition to FIFA questioning the eligibility of several DR Congo players.

Nigeria's protest centres on the argument that DR Congo's domestic law does not recognise dual citizenship for adults, raising questions about players who reportedly hold European passports while representing the Leopards.

NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi earlier explained the federation's concerns.

"As far as FIFA is concerned, once you have the passport of your country, you are eligible. But our concern is that FIFA may have been deceived into clearing them," he said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, has urged caution against interpreting recent developments as a final verdict on Nigeria's complaint.

Mr Dikko believes the listing of DR Congo among the teams preparing for the intercontinental play-off tournament does not mean that FIFA has already made a final decision on Nigeria's petition.

"As far as we know, FIFA is yet to give its verdict," Mr Dikko said, according to ThisDay Newspaper. "We are monitoring the situation closely.

"The fact that DR Congo appears among the six nations to compete for the final two spots in the playoff is not enough to jump to the conclusion that FIFA has thrown out Nigeria's petition. Some nations are also preparing for friendly matches. Things will change as soon as the FIFA verdict comes out."

He added that FIFA typically informs all parties involved before delivering a final decision in sensitive matters.

"The FIFA we all know has a channel to pass such sensitive information across to the parties involved. The name of DR Congo appears on the fixtures for now because the matter brought before FIFA has not been decided.

"We are very hopeful that Nigeria will win the eligibility case, and the Super Eagles will proceed to play in the playoff, and possibly make the World Cup party. I want all Nigerians to remain calm and wait for the final verdict."

DR Congo is currently listed among the teams preparing for the intercontinental play-off tournament as the race for the final places at the 2026 FIFA World Cup intensifies.

- Tunde Eludini, Premium Times (Abuja)

NIGERIA: WE ARE SORRY FOR THE FAILURE TO QUALIFY FOR 2026 WORLD CUP - NFF

Nigeria are ranked the fifth-best side in Africa but will be absent from the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada
 

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has tendered unreserved apology for the failure of the Super Eagles to win the African ticket to the final Intercontinental Playoffs scheduled to hold March next year in Mexico.

Super Eagles lost out 3-4 in the shootouts with DR Congo after regulation and extra time deadlocked at 1-1 in the final match of the 2026 World Cup African Playoffs in Rabat, Morocco on Sunday night.

In a lengthy apology message addressed to President Bola Tinubu and passionate Nigerian football stakeholders, the NFF described the loss to DR Congo as a profound sadness to Nigerian football.

"Sunday's loss to DR Congo in the Africa Playoff Final in Rabat remains a moment of profound sadness for Nigerian football. For a nation where the Super Eagles serve as a symbol of unity, hope, and collective pride, missing out on the World Cup for a second consecutive time is a disappointment of great weight and emotional depth.

"The NFF, the technical crew, and the players understand the gravity of this moment. We understand the expectations Nigerians rightly hold. We understand the passion and sacrifice of a country that has always stood firmly behind its team, through triumphs and trials. And we recognise that our collective effort did not deliver the outcome this nation deserved," stressed the message issued by the NFF's Director Communication, Dr Ademola Olajire.

The statement recalled the gloom that enveloped Super Eagles dressing room minutes after the final kick in the penalty shootouts.

"In the dressing room after the match, the pain among the players was palpable. Many struggled to speak."

NFF admitted that the financial support the federation received from the President Tinubu Administration remains enormous that should have been rewarded with the World Cup ticket by the Super Eagles.

"Throughout the long journey of this qualification campaign, we were privileged to receive enormous support from the Federal Government through the National Sports Commission, the National Assembly, key Ministries, Departments and Agencies, our diplomatic missions, the media, and, above all, the passionate fans whose devotion remains unmatched anywhere in the world.

"Football in Nigeria is more than a game. It is a national language. A bridge across cultures, a source of pride and emotional identity. A powerful symbol of unity that binds over 200 million people as one family. We owe it to this nation to honour that bond with sincerity, accountability, and action."

The NFF therefore pledged to go to Morocco to win the AFCON 2025 starting next month in Rabat.

"As we look forward, our immediate attention turns to the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, which begins shortly. This tournament presents an opportunity for healing, for renewal, and for demonstrating the resilience that has always defined Nigerian football."

Against the backdrop of calls from a section of the stakeholders that the NFF board should resign from the position, the federation promised to review Nigeria's entire participation in the World Cup qualifiers for decisive steps to reposition the national teams for future success.

- This Day (Lagos)

SUPER EAGLES REVOLT IN MOROCCO EXPOSES NFF'S LONG HISTORY OF BROKEN PROMISES

On Tuesday, the players and officials boycotted training over years of unpaid bonuses and allowances, laying bare once more the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) chronic failures in managing players’ welfare.

Troost-Ekong and Ibrahim Gusau

As Nigeria’s Super Eagles prepare for one of their most crucial assignments in two years — the 2026 FIFA World Cup African playoffs in Morocco — the team has been plunged into yet another avoidable crisis.

On Tuesday, the players and officials boycotted training over years of unpaid bonuses and allowances, exposing once again the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) chronic failures in managing players’ welfare.

The squad, led by captain William Troost-Ekong, refused to train in Rabat, citing unresolved financial commitments stretching back several matches.

According to veteran BBC journalist Oluwashina Okeleji, who first broke the story, the boycott was a united decision involving the players and officials.

They are demanding payment of long-overdue allowances before returning to full preparation for Thursday’s semi-final clash against Gabon.

Sources in Rabat said that, as of Tuesday night, the players had vowed not to play until the NFF cleared all outstanding debts.

Executives of the National Sports Commission (NSC), PREMIUM TIMES gathered, have contacted the team leaders, and some funds have reportedly been released to the NFF.

One of the journalists on the ground in Rabat, Sulaiman Pooja Adebayo, clarified that the dispute is not merely about immediate payments. “The players are fighting for the new generation,” he said.

“They want the NFF to be responsible going forward. This fight is beyond unpaid allowances; it’s about the future of football in Nigeria.”

Super Eagles (CREDIT: NFF Media)

A long shadow of broken promises

The Super Eagles’ current protest fits into a familiar and deeply embarrassing pattern that has trailed Nigerian football for decades. Successive national teams — from the 1994 heroes to the class of 2018 — have faced similar episodes of neglect and delayed payments, often on the eve of major tournaments.

Across the age-grade teams and even among the female footballers, the sad tale of broken promises and unpaid wages is even worse.

Former Beach Soccer captain Abu Azeez recalled his own experience, saying he once considered retiring from national duty because of repeated empty promises. “I finally joined camp and played so we qualified for the World Cup, but I was never paid that same money,” Azeez lamented. “This is not new. It’s a recurring wound.”

Former Super Eagles captain and ex-coach Sunday Oliseh also painted a grim picture of the NFF’s habit of reneging on promises when he appeared on Bet9ja’s Home Turf podcast.

Oliseh said that for the 2002 World Cup Qualifiers, the players agreed with the federation to split the FIFA qualification bonus equally — half for the federation and half for the 30 players featured in the qualifying campaign. “We had an agreement: $1 million was coming from FIFA. We said, ‘Okay, let’s split it 50–50 — $500,000 for the federation and $500,000 for the players,’” Oliseh revealed.

“Each player would have earned around $18,000. But the only way that money could be distributed fairly was if I, as captain, was there to ensure it happened.”

According to the former Juventus midfielder, the NFF allegedly disbanded the team shortly after qualification was secured — effectively removing key senior players, including himself and assistant captain Finidi George, from the final World Cup squad.

“To ensure that money was not paid, they eliminated me and Finidi,” Oliseh continued. “Eighty per cent of the players who went to the 2002 World Cup didn’t participate in the qualifiers. That means they weren’t eligible for that money — and it was never paid to those who earned it.”

Early warning

Journalist Osasu Obayiuwana had sounded the alarm much earlier this year when he questioned the seriousness of Nigeria’s World Cup ambitions while owing the Super Eagles bonuses for twenty matches. His words, once seen as hyperbole, now ring prophetic.

Sources close to the team revealed that the NFF had verbally promised the squad a “special bonus” a month ago, but the agreement was never formalised. “They offered, not the players,” one source clarified. “Now the federation has gone silent.”

William Troost-Ekong

Troost-Ekong calls for calm

Amid the tension, Captain William Troost-Ekong moved swiftly to steady the ship. Posting on his verified X account, he confirmed the situation but urged restraint and truth.

“Once a resolution is found, we will be the first to confirm,” he wrote. “Any other statement or especially demands other than the rightful request written about below is false. All we want and continue to do is focus on the big games ahead.”

His message was a subtle rebuke to speculative reports circulating online about fresh demands from the players. Ekong’s post also reflects the team’s collective frustration — not defiance, but fatigue from years of financial neglect that have repeatedly disrupted Nigeria’s football progress.

Administrative inertia and quiet corridors

The NFF has remained publicly silent since the boycott began. Despite growing international attention, its media team has issued no statement since Tuesday. However, insiders confirm that the federation’s president, Ibrahim Gusau, is expected to meet with the players in Rabat on Wednesday morning, following overnight consultations with officials from the National Sports Commission.

According to government sources, the NSC claims it has released additional funds to the NFF to cover outstanding obligations for the qualifiers. Whether those funds, when disbursed to the players, will calm their nerves remains unclear.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Maduka Okoye arrived late Tuesday night, completing the 24-man squad in camp.

Yet full training had not resumed as of Wednesday morning, pending the outcome of talks between the players and the NFF hierarchy.

Bigger than Morocco

The timing of this crisis could hardly be worse. Nigeria faces Gabon in the first semi-final of the FIFA World Cup Africa Play-off Tournament in Rabat, with a potential final against either Cameroon or DR Congo determining who advances to the intercontinental playoff stage.

But beyond the immediate embarrassment, the players’ revolt has reignited a national conversation about how football governance continues to fail its biggest ambassadors.

For all the glitz around modern Nigerian stars — Osimhen, Lookman, Ndidi — their working conditions remain disturbingly unstable.

For many, the federation’s inability to settle basic entitlements undermines morale, professionalism, and public confidence — at a time when the country can least afford distractions.

As negotiations continue in Rabat, the message from the players is unmistakable: this is no longer just a fight for money, but for dignity and accountability.

- Tunde Eludini

NIGERIA BOYCOTT AFCON QUALIFIER AGAINST LIBYA - FEDERATION

Nigeria forward Victor Boniface was part of the team stranded at a small airport in Libya. William Troost-Ekong on X

Nigeria have pulled out of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya on Monday, according to their captain William Troost-Ekong and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), in protest at their flight to the country being diverted before players and staff were abandoned for hours in an airport far from the match venue.

The Super Eagles were due to play hosts Libya in the city of Benghazi, where they hoped to seal a qualification berth for the finals in Morocco late next year.

But after being stranded for more than 16 hours at an airport 250 km (155 miles) away from their intended destination, the Nigeria players said they will not fulfil the fixture and the NFF issued a statement.

"The delegation of Nigeria to Tuesday's 2025 AFCON qualifier against Libya still remained at the Al Abraq Airport 12 hours after landing in Libya," the statement said.

"The chartered ValueJet aircraft was, strangely and in a dangerous manner, diverted to the small airport away from Benghazi just as the pilot was completing his approach to the Benghazi Airport.

"Fatigued players and officials have remained nonplussed as the host Libyan Football Federation failed to send any reception team or even vehicles to take the delegation members from the airport to their hotel, said to be 3 hours away in Benghazi.

"Players have resolved not to play the match any longer as NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home."

Troost-Ekong said on X: "As the captain, together with the team, we have decided that we will not play this game. Apparently our plane is being fueled as we speak and we should be leaving to Nigeria shortly."

CAF said in a statement that they had been in contact with both countries' football federations and that the "matter has been referred to the CAF Disciplinary Board for investigation and appropriate action will be taken against those who violated the CAF Statutes and Regulations."

The Libyan Football Federation said the incident was not deliberate and urged Nigeria to be understanding.

"We have the utmost respect for our Nigerian counterparts and want to reassure them that the diversion of their flight was not intentional," it said, adding that disruptions can occur from routine air traffic protocols, security checks or other logistical challenges.

"We firmly reject any claims that suggest foul play or sabotage in this situation. We hope that this misunderstanding can be resolved with understanding and goodwill."

Nigeria striker Victor Boniface complained he had been stuck at the airport for almost 13 hours with no food, WiFi or place to sleep. "Africa, we can do better," he said on X.

It is unclear what will happen to the points from the game with the matter likely to be referred to CAF's Disciplinary Board.

Nigeria beat Libya 1-0 in the reverse fixture in Uyo on Friday thanks to a late goal from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, taking them to seven points from three games in their group.

Benin have six points, Rwanda two and Libya one. The top two teams in each group advance to the 24-team finals.

Information from ESPN's Colin Udoh contributed to this report.

- Reuters 

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