The Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) has still not publicly announced its verdict on the eligibility dispute between Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) involving the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification playoff match, leaving Nigerian fans and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in limbo, sports news sources report.

Nigeria filed a formal protest with FIFA in December 2025 after losing to DR Congo in the African playoff final, alleging that the opposing side fielded several ineligible players in the decisive fixture, a move the NFF says breached FIFA’s player eligibility rules.

The complaint centres on the claim that some DR Congo players held dual citizenship and did not meet conditions under Congolese law and FIFA regulations before they featured in the match, a situation Nigeria says should nullify the result and possibly entitle the Super Eagles to a place in the 2026 World Cup intercontinental playoffs.

Despite widespread discussions and speculation from fans and analysts, FIFA has not communicated any final decision to the NFF or DR Congo’s football federation, and no official ruling has been made public as of late February 2026. NFF officials have stressed that rumours of a decision are false until confirmed by the governing body in Zurich.

The delay has caused tension within Nigerian football circles. Some former officials and commentators have expressed frustration over the extended silence from FIFA and warned that the culmination of Nigeria’s qualifying hopes now hinges more on administrative timing than on outcomes on the field of play.

Football analysts have urged patience and calm as the review continues and noted that either party may seek a further appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if they remain dissatisfied with FIFA’s eventual decision.

The unresolved status of the case comes with the intercontinental playoff window approaching later this year, meaning that a FIFA verdict is now urgent for finalising the qualifiers for the first 48-team 2026 World Cup in North America.