FIFA Declares DR Congo Player Ineligible, Nigeria's Complaint Dismissed
Investigations by The New York Times and Le Monde revealed that FIFA's legal team identified Lionel Mpasi-Nzau, a goalkeeper for DR Congo, as ineligible during the qualification campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mpasi-Nzau, who holds both French and Congolese nationality, had not completed the process of switching his sporting nationality despite debuting for DR Congo in February 2022.
Following Nigeria's penalty shootout loss to DR Congo in the African playoff final in November 2025, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) lodged a formal complaint regarding the eligibility of several DR Congo players. On March 9 and 10, 2026, FIFA's legal department discovered the issue with Mpasi-Nzau.
FIFA considered various options, including awarding the match to Nigeria, but ultimately ruled Nigeria's complaint inadmissible due to procedural and timing issues. Consequently, DR Congo faced Jamaica and won 1-0, securing their first World Cup appearance since 1974.
Plus234Feed summary based on reporting from Legit.ng. Read the original report below.
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