Nigeria’s World Cup hopes have been thrown into fresh controversy after a report claimed FIFA knew DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi-Nzau had eligibility issues before rejecting the Super Eagles’ complaint.
Mpasi-Nzau, a former France youth international, played all 120 minutes when DR Congo eliminated Nigeria from the 2026 World Cup qualifying race in November 2025, winning 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the continental play-off final.
Nigeria subsequently filed a complaint with FIFA challenging the goalkeeper’s eligibility.
The New York Times reported on Tuesday that documents reviewed by the newspaper showed Mpasi-Nzau had not completed the required process to switch his international allegiance to DR Congo.
The FIFA committee handling the complaint reportedly considered recommending that the match be awarded to Nigeria, a decision that would have sent the Super Eagles through to face Jamaica in the intercontinental play-off.
The committee also considered taking no action because Nigeria had submitted its complaint after the stipulated deadline. FIFA eventually rejected Nigeria’s appeal on technical grounds.
The decision meant Nigeria missed a second consecutive World Cup, having failed to qualify for the tournament for the first time since its debut in 1994.
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Former Nigeria Football Federation President Ibrahim Gusau criticised FIFA’s handling of the case, saying the organisation announced only its judgment without providing details of its findings.
The report also raised questions about the relationship between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Véron Mosengo-Omba, president of the DR Congo football federation.
It alleged that sanctioning DR Congo could have strained the relationship between the two officials.
Mosengo-Omba was elected to lead the Congolese federation two months after the country secured its World Cup qualification.
The revelations come as Infantino faces renewed scrutiny over his leadership of FIFA and prepares to meet African football officials in Cape Verde this week.
The FIFA president is expected to seek support from Africa, which has 54 votes in FIFA elections, second only to UEFA’s 55.
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