Nigeria is looking into ways to get compensation from FIFA. This is after it was revealed that FIFA’s legal team found that DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi breached eligibility rules during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The National Sports Commission (NSC) believes the Super Eagles have been cleared, according to The PUNCH.
The NSC's stance comes after reports from The New York Times and Le Monde. They stated that FIFA lawyers discovered Mpasi had not completed the process to switch his international allegiance from France, where he played for youth teams.
Despite these findings, FIFA did not take any action against DR Congo. The team went on to beat Jamaica in the intercontinental play-off, securing a spot in the World Cup.
An NSC official told ESPN that Nigeria might seek compensation for the financial and sporting losses from missing the tournament. “Nothing has been decided yet, but we will seriously consider seeking compensation from FIFA for all of the economic losses this has cost Nigeria,” the official said.
“The revenue that the Super Eagles and the NFF would have received from participating at the World Cup, the exposure that players would have got, transfers, the sponsorship fees, even the boost to the Nigerian economy. We are exploring all our options as a country and nothing is off the table.”
Nigeria had filed a complaint with FIFA after DR Congo knocked out the Super Eagles in the African play-off final in November. They won 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in extra time.
The NFF’s initial complaint raised concerns over the eligibility of several DR Congo players. The latest news focuses on Mpasi, who reportedly did not complete his change of association from France.
Documents reviewed by The New York Times show that FIFA looked at several options. These included giving Nigeria the win, imposing financial penalties, or replacing DR Congo with Nigeria in the play-off against Jamaica. The case was eventually dismissed on a technicality.
The NSC now wants FIFA to reopen the case. They argue that the new evidence goes beyond whether Nigeria’s original complaint was filed properly. “Nigeria has been vindicated,” the official said. “When we said we had written a petition to FIFA, people accused us of all sorts of things. I think this has proven that we were correct that DRC fielded ineligible players.”
The official also stressed that FIFA should address the eligibility issue, no matter when Nigeria made its complaint. They said, “Nigeria will be seeking for FIFA to review the case because the case is about fraud and fraud does not have a time limit for punishment.”
This situation has angered many Nigerian fans. Some are questioning how FIFA handled the case and how the NFF responded.
“What is going on? CAF, medicine after death, apologizing to Nigeria after the loss to Guinea Bissau due to bad pitch. FIFA, medicine after death after we have missed out of the last World Cup. Blame Nigeria sha for failing to win those games,” @Idowu316 wrote.
Another user, @BlingzNew, added, “It’s obvious they did and we all knew it but Nigeria don’t even deserve to be at the world cup especially with the kind of haram rubbish we’re playing.”
Blaming the football administration, @BAAFRICAA wrote, “It’s because we have a weak FA. They should have sued FIFA but they let It slide.”
Another supporter, @seyi356, said, “It’s about the NFF doing the right thing at the right time as FIFA won’t just do that for any FA.”
Nigeria’s renewed push now puts FIFA in a spot to explain how they handled the eligibility issue that their own legal team found and whether the case against DR Congo should be looked at again.
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