FRESH uncertainty has clouded Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup ambitions after FIFA released its 2025 CAS & Football Annual Report without any reference to Nigeria’s pending petition against DR Congo.
News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the omission has triggered renewed anxiety among Nigerian football fans and stakeholders, as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) continues to await a ruling on its protest alleging that DR Congo fielded ineligible players during the African play-off final for the 2026 World Cup.
Nigeria had submitted its petition on December 15, 2025, following the Super Eagles’ dramatic and heartbreaking elimination after a 4–3 penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo in Rabat last November.
The loss effectively ended Nigeria’s chances of progressing directly to the intercontinental play-offs for the 2026 tournament scheduled to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The NFF’s complaint reportedly centered on claims that DR Congo violated eligibility regulations during the decisive fixture. Football authorities in Nigeria had expressed optimism that the matter would be addressed swiftly, particularly after reports suggested that FIFA’s Ethics Committee was expected to deliberate on the issue in mid-February.
However, the publication of FIFA’s latest annual report has provided no clarity. The report made no mention of the Nigeria–DR Congo case, instead focusing broadly on global football arbitration matters.
It noted that 77 percent of all cases registered with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in 2025 were football-related, underscoring the sport’s dominant role in international sports litigation.
For Nigerian supporters, however, those statistics offer little comfort.
With no timeline announced for a verdict, uncertainty continues to dominate conversations about the Super Eagles’ World Cup fate. The absence of any official update has intensified speculation, leaving fans divided between hope and resignation.
Adding to the uncertainty, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, confirmed on February 19, 2026, that no final decision had been communicated by FIFA.
Speaking to State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Dikko dismissed circulating reports suggesting that a verdict had already been reached.
“As at today, February 19, 2026, there is no official communication from FIFA regarding the matter,” he said.
While expressing confidence in the strength of Nigeria’s case, Dikko acknowledged that the outcome now rests entirely with FIFA’s independent judicial bodies.
“World Cup is a closed chapter for us competitively, but the legal matter is pending. The relevant independent bodies within FIFA will decide,” he stated.
For now, Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup destiny remains unresolved. Until FIFA breaks its silence, the Super Eagles’ hopes however slim hang in the balance, suspended between legal process and sporting finality.