FIFA was aware of concerns over the eligibility of a Democratic Republic of Congo player before the country defeated Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup qualifying play-off, according to a report by The New York Times.
The Super Eagles faced DR Congo in the final of the African play-offs in Rabat, Morocco, in November 2025. The match ended 1-1 before DR Congo prevailed 4-3 on penalties to secure a place in the intercontinental play-off.
The report said FIFA’s legal officials had privately concluded that DR Congo breached player eligibility requirements involving goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who had previously represented France at youth level and had not completed the required process to change his international affiliation.
Despite the concerns, Mpasi was allowed to continue representing DR Congo. The country later defeated Jamaica in March to secure qualification for the World Cup, ending a 52-year absence from the tournament.
Nigeria’s Football Federation had filed a complaint with FIFA in December 2025, challenging the eligibility of several DR Congo players, including Mpasi. The NFF alleged that the Congolese federation had provided misleading information to FIFA while obtaining clearance for the players.
Documents and correspondence reviewed by The New York Times, together with information from a senior official involved in the matter, reportedly showed that FIFA considered several possible outcomes. These included awarding the play-off match to Nigeria, imposing financial penalties, replacing DR Congo with Nigeria in the subsequent play-off against Jamaica, or taking no action because of concerns that Nigeria’s complaint had been submitted outside the applicable deadline.
FIFA regulations allow sanctions, including forfeiture of a match, when a team fields an ineligible player. The governing body has previously changed match outcomes in similar circumstances.
In 2016, Greece was sanctioned after using a player who had previously represented Australia at youth level, resulting in a 3-0 defeat being awarded against Turkey. Two years later, FIFA altered the results of two Bolivia World Cup qualifying matches after finding that Bolivia had fielded a player who had previously represented Paraguay.
The latest revelations have also raised questions about FIFA’s handling of the Congo case because Véron Mosengo-Omba, described as an ally of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, was preparing to run for the presidency of the Congolese football federation while the eligibility matter was being considered.
Two months after DR Congo secured its World Cup qualification, Mosengo-Omba reportedly became the sole candidate for the federation presidency after eight other contenders withdrew or were disqualified following changes to eligibility requirements. He was subsequently elected.
Former FIFA official Prince Zelkifli Rahman Ngoufonja, also known as Prince Zul, said the relationship between Infantino and Mosengo-Omba could have created political consequences if DR Congo had been removed from the World Cup.
Mosengo-Omba, however, said he was unaware of FIFA’s findings concerning Mpasi’s eligibility.
The development has renewed scrutiny of Nigeria’s unsuccessful complaint and FIFA’s decision-making over the eligibility dispute, particularly because Nigeria’s defeat against DR Congo ultimately ended the Super Eagles’ hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
