The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed circulating reports suggesting that FIFA has thrown out Nigeria’s petition against the Democratic Republic of Congo over the alleged fielding of ineligible players during their World Cup playoff encounter.
Okay News reports that the clarification was issued by the NFF Secretary General, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, who said the federation has not received any official correspondence from FIFA on the matter.
Speaking during an interview on newsmen on Saturday, Sanusi described the reports as unfounded, stressing that the petition submitted by the NFF remains under FIFA’s consideration.
“The Nigeria Football Federation wrote a petition to FIFA on the eligibility of some of the players of DR Congo, and if there is anything, FIFA will reply to the NFF,” Sanusi said.
“The NFF has not received any letter from FIFA saying they have thrown away our petition. We have checked our emails, and there was no letter from FIFA.”
He questioned the source of the claims circulating in the media, insisting that no decision has been formally communicated to the federation.
“I don’t know where they got their information from. If there is any such letter, let them show it, unless they have someone in FIFA giving them information ahead of official communication,” he added.
Nigeria were eliminated from contention for the 2026 FIFA World Cup intercontinental playoffs after losing 4–3 on penalties to DR Congo following a 1–1 draw in their African playoff final in November.
Despite the setback, the NFF maintains that its concerns regarding player eligibility are still before FIFA and that no outcome has been conveyed to the federation.
