FIFA to Rule on Nigeria's World Cup Petition February 16

FIFA is set to announce its ruling on Nigeria's petition against DR Congo concerning player eligibility on February 16, 2025. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) submitted a formal petition on December 15, 2025, alleging that six Congolese players featured in a match were ineligible due to recent changes in international allegiance rules.

This situation arose after Nigeria's World Cup qualification campaign suffered a significant setback with a playoff loss in November 2025. NFF General Secretary Dr.

Mohammed Sanusi publicly stated that the federation believes the claim is weak and is not pursuing the case. However, Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi expressed hope despite the uncertainty surrounding the outcome.

If FIFA rules in Nigeria's favor, the Super Eagles will be reinstated into the qualification process, allowing them to advance to the intercontinental playoff scheduled for March, which will determine the final slot for the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted jointly by Canada and Mexico. The decision may also set a precedent for future eligibility disputes in modern football.