World Cup 2026: Nigeria suspended pending FIFA verdict
After its complaint against DR Congo for the alleged fielding of ineligible players, the Nigerian Football Federation now awaits FIFA’s decision, the ultimate hope for a return of the Super Eagles to the World Cup race.
The fate of the Super Eagles is no longer decided on the pitch, but in FIFA’s corridors. The president of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, has confirmed that Nigeria’s future ahead of the 2026 World Cup now depends on a legal decision by the global body.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) officially submitted a complaint to FIFA, arguing that DR Congo fielded ineligible players in the African World Cup qualifying playoff final. A complaint that could reshuffle the cards… or definitively close the file.
Following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Dikko acknowledged that the sporting aspect was finished, but that the battle continued on the regulatory side. The World Cup is a chapter closed for us on the competitive front, but the legal question is moving forward, he told reporters.
And he added : « The competent independent bodies within FIFA will decide. Despite the uncertainty, the Nigerian leader remains cautiously optimistic and hopes for the Super Eagles’ reinstatement for the intercontinental playoffs scheduled in March. Nigeria holds its breath.
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