Tension as FIFA releases annual report without reference to Nigeria’s petition against DR Congo

Nigeria’s hopes of a potential return to the 2026 World Cup spotlight remain uncertain after FIFA released its 2025 CAS & Football Annual Report without addressing the country’s pending petition against DR Congo.

The publication, made public this week, contains no reference to the complaint lodged by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), which alleges that DR Congo fielded ineligible players during the African play-off final for the 2026 World Cup.

Nigeria submitted its protest on December 15, 2025, weeks after the Super Eagles were eliminated following a 4–3 penalty shootout defeat in Rabat last November. The result halted Nigeria’s path to the intercontinental play-offs for the tournament scheduled to be hosted across North America.

Expectations had grown that a ruling could emerge in mid-February, particularly after reports of an Ethics Committee meeting. However, the newly released report does not mention the Nigeria–DR Congo dispute or provide any update on the status of the case.

Instead, FIFA’s document highlights broader arbitration trends, noting that 77 per cent of cases registered with the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2025 were football-related. It offers no timeline for decisions on specific pending matters.

The absence of clarity has sustained uncertainty among supporters and stakeholders, with Nigeria’s World Cup prospects still dependent on the outcome of the complaint.

Speaking to State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on February 19, 2026, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, confirmed that no verdict had been communicated.

He dismissed reports suggesting that a decision had been reached, stating that the commission had received no official notice from FIFA.

Dikko expressed confidence in Nigeria’s legal position but acknowledged that the matter rests with FIFA’s independent judicial bodies.

“World Cup is a closed chapter for us competitively, but the legal matter is pending. The relevant independent bodies within FIFA will decide,” he said.

With no indication of when a ruling may come, Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup fate remains unresolved.