FIFA knew DR Congo keeper was ineligible before Nigeria’s World Cup playoff failure

A fresh investigation has raised serious questions over Nigeria’s World Cup elimination after FIFA lawyers reportedly discovered that DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi had not completed the required paperwork to switch his international allegiance.

A discovery that came too lateNigeria’s painful route to the 2026 World Cup has been thrown back into the spotlight after reports revealed that FIFA officials had identified a potential eligibility problem involving DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.

According to documents reviewed by major international media outlets, FIFA’s legal department determined that Mpasi had not completed the formal process required to change his international affiliation from France to DR Congo. The goalkeeper had previously represented France at youth level.

The revelation is significant because Mpasi had featured during DR Congo’s qualifying campaign, including the dramatic African playoff victory over Nigeria that ended the Super Eagles’ World Cup hopes.

FIFA considered possible sanctions

Reports indicate that FIFA lawyers considered several possible responses, including disciplinary action against DR Congo and consequences that could have altered the qualification pathway.

However, Nigeria’s complaint was ultimately rejected on procedural and timing grounds. The decision allowed DR Congo to continue its campaign and subsequently defeat Jamaica in the intercontinental playoff to secure a World Cup place.

The controversy is particularly striking because FIFA’s own eligibility framework requires proper documentation when a player changes international association.

FIFA also recently published updated guidance stressing the importance of formal approval and documentation in such cases.

Nigeria left asking questions

The NFF had formally challenged the eligibility of DR Congo players following Nigeria’s defeat in November 2025 and later appealed FIFA’s rejection.

The latest revelations do not automatically mean Nigeria should be reinstated or that its elimination will be overturned.

But they raise a much bigger question about consistency: if FIFA officials identified an eligibility problem before a decisive qualification match, why was the competition allowed to proceed without a sporting sanction?

That question could now become one of the most contentious governance issues surrounding the 2026 World Cup.