How FIFA shielded ineligible DR Congo player in Nigeria World Cup qualifier – Report

The New York Times has reported that the international football governing body, FIFA, was aware that the Democratic Republic of Congo had fielded an ineligible player during their 2026 World Cup qualifier match against Nigeria. The game, which took place in Rabat, Morocco in November 2025, was the final of the CAF play-offs for a spot in the intercontinental tournament.

Congo won the match 4-3 on penalties after it ended 1-1 on the day. According to the report, FIFA's legal officials privately determined that goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi breached player eligibility rules by not completing the necessary documentation to switch his international affiliation from France. Despite this finding, FIFA allowed Mpasi to continue playing.

Congo proceeded to defeat Nigeria in their subsequent match against Jamaica in March 2026, marking their first World Cup appearance in 52 years. This revelation has prompted questions about FIFA's handling of Nigeria's complaint against Congo, which was lodged after Congo's victory by penalties in the African play-off final. Nigeria missed out on the World Cup for the second consecutive time, having also failed to qualify in 2022.

In December 2025, Nigeria's Football Federation (NFF) filed a complaint with FIFA, questioning the clearance of several foreign-born players, including Mpasi, and alleging that the Congolese federation had misled FIFA regarding their eligibility. FIFA, under the rules, could have awarded the match to Nigeria, imposed fines, replaced Congo with Nigeria in the play-off against Jamaica or taken no action at all, considering late filing of Nigeria's complaint.

Nigeria's complaint was one of several possible sanctions FIFA considered, with the governing body previously taking more decisive action in similar cases. In 2016, FIFA sanctioned Greece after they fielded an ineligible player, awarding a 3-0 defeat to Turkey. FIFA later changed the results of Bolivia's two World Cup qualifying matches after determining that Bolivia had fielded a player who had previously represented Paraguay.

When FIFA was reviewing the Congo eligibility case, Véron Mosengo-Omba, a close ally of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, was preparing to contest for the presidency of the Congolese football federation. Mosengo-Omba won the presidency two months later, following Congo's World Cup qualification, marking a potential conflict of interest.

FIFA president Infantino's close relationship with Mosengo-Omba has raised questions about the potential consequences of FIFA removing Congo from the World Cup.