Softfootball continues to investigate the ongoing World Cup eligibility dispute between Nigeria national football team and Congo national football team.
Nigeria had reportedly petitioned Congo over the alleged fielding of players with dual citizenship, despite claims that Congo’s constitution does not permit players with dual nationality to represent the national team. The case has generated serious debate across both countries.
There were strong indications that the matter would be laid to rest with a verdict expected on Monday, 16th February 2026. However, as of now, no official statement has been released by FIFA, increasing tension and uncertainty among Nigerian and Congolese fans.
After Monday passed without an update, a top Nigerian football journalist, Pooja Media, posted on X:
🚨 JUST IN;
FIFA Executive Council members is tomorrow & all pending verdicts will be announced.
One more day to hope.
The “tomorrow” referred to Tuesday, 17th February 2026. However, Tuesday has also passed without any official communication from FIFA regarding the case.
Meanwhile, there were unverified reports circulating that FIFA had dismissed the petition. An insider within the Nigeria Football Federation has described those reports as false, insisting that no final decision has been communicated to the federation.
At Softfootball, we are still closely monitoring the situation. Sources indicate that before the end of this week, there should be an official update from FIFA concerning the dispute.
Until then, fans remain under pressure, waiting for clarity on a matter that could significantly impact World Cup qualification hopes.
