Play-off Final Looms as CAS Yet to Confirm Nigeria’s Appeal

By Kunle Solaja.

With the inter-continental play-off for the World Cup entering the home stretch, Nigeria’s planned appeal against FIFA’s dismissal of its protest over the eligibility of certain Democratic Republic of Congo players is yet to materialise at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). This raises fresh uncertainty on the eve of the final stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying process.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had earlier announced its intention to challenge the ruling of FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee, which threw out Nigeria’s petition concerning alleged irregularities in the documentation of some DR Congo players who featured in the decisive African play-off clash in November 2025.

However, as of the last working day before the eve of the final qualifier on Tuesday, CAS has not listed or formally acknowledged receipt of any appeal from Nigeria, casting doubt over the timeline and urgency of the process.

NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, had assured Nigerians shortly after FIFA’s verdict that the federation would pursue the matter to its logical conclusion.

“We have received the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee on our petition, but we are not satisfied with the decision, which rejected our petition. I want to assure Nigerians that the NFF has immediately commenced the process of appealing the decision,” Sanusi stated at the time.

Nigeria’s protest stemmed from what it described as “perceived fraud” in the issuance of passports to certain DR Congo players, which allegedly made them ineligible for the high-stakes encounter.

The match in question, played at the Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, ended 1-1 after regulation and extra time, with DR Congo prevailing via a sudden-death penalty shootout to secure passage ahead of Nigeria.

The absence of any formal update from CAS now places the NFF in a delicate position, particularly given the time-sensitive nature of World Cup qualification disputes, which typically require expedited handling to avoid disrupting competition schedules.

In contrast, the Senegal Football Federation, which faced disciplinary issues around the same period, has already had its appeal process formally acknowledged by CAS, with the court confirming that the case would be fast-tracked.

The disparity has further intensified scrutiny on Nigeria’s handling of the appeal process, with stakeholders questioning whether procedural delays or administrative bottlenecks may undermine the country’s chances of securing a favourable hearing.

With the World Cup qualification race entering its decisive phase, the lack of clarity surrounding Nigeria’s appeal could have significant implications—not only for the Super Eagles’ prospects, but also for confidence in the federation’s ability to navigate complex legal and administrative challenges at the highest level of international football.

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