FIFA knew DR Congo used an ineligible goalkeeper against Nigeria, report reveals

FIFA is facing fresh questions over the circumstances surrounding Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after reports revealed that its officials knew DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi had not completed the process required to switch his international allegiance from France.

The revelation has revived Nigeria’s complaint over DR Congo’s use of players in the decisive World Cup qualifying play-off and raised questions about why no sporting punishment was imposed.

The Super Eagles lost to DR Congo 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw following extra time in the African play-off final in Rabat, Morocco, on 16 November 2025.

Mpasi played all 120 minutes of the match.

Nigeria subsequently complained to FIFA, challenging the eligibility of several DR Congo players. The complaint was rejected on technical grounds.

But a report by The New York Times, published Tuesday, said documents the newspaper reviewed showed that FIFA’s own legal officials later found that Mpasi had not completed the necessary process to change his international association from France to DR Congo.

Le Monde separately reported that FIFA lawyers discovered the problem in March 2026, shortly before DR Congo faced Jamaica in the intercontinental play-off.

Mpasi, 32, was born in France and represented the country at youth level. According to the reports, DR Congo began the process to change his international association in 2021, but the process was never completed.

That meant, according to the FIFA documents cited by the reports, that he was not properly cleared to play for DR Congo.

FIFA considered options

The new information is particularly significant because FIFA reportedly considered what action could be taken after Nigeria’s complaint.

According to The New York Times, options considered by the FIFA committee included awarding the match to Nigeria, imposing a sanction on DR Congo, replacing DR Congo with Nigeria in the intercontinental play-off against Jamaica or taking no action because Nigeria’s complaint had been filed late.

The committee ultimately did not impose a sporting sanction that would have changed the qualification process.

FIFA told The New York Times that its committees are autonomous and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them.

The governing body has not publicly accepted the claim that the handling of the case was improper.

The decision proved costly for Nigeria.

DR Congo went on to beat Jamaica in the intercontinental play-off in March, qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in 52 years.

The Leopards then reached the knockout stage of the tournament after drawing with Portugal and beating Uzbekistan. They lost 2-1 to England in the last 32, with Mpasi starting in goal.

Nigeria considers next steps

The latest reports have given Nigeria a fresh reason to revisit the case.

A senior National Sports Commission official told ESPN that Nigeria is considering seeking compensation from FIFA for the financial losses caused by missing the World Cup.

“Nothing has been decided yet, but we will seriously consider seeking compensation from FIFA for all of the economic losses this has cost Nigeria,” the official said.

The official said the possible losses include revenue that would have gone to the NFF and Super Eagles, sponsorship income, player exposure and the wider economic benefits of Nigeria’s participation in the tournament.

“We are exploring all our options as a country, and nothing is off the table,” the official said.

Former NFF president Ibrahim Gusau, who was in charge when Nigeria filed its complaint, also criticised FIFA’s handling of the matter.

“They just kept quiet, and they can’t tell anyone because they know it’s going to be a serious crisis for them,” Mr Gusau was quoted as saying by TheCable, arguing that FIFA had not fully disclosed what its investigation found.

The NFF had earlier said it was appealing FIFA’s rejection of its complaint.

Nigeria’s original case was broader than Mpasi’s eligibility. The federation had questioned the status of several DR Congo players and alleged that FIFA may have been given misleading information when clearing them to play.

Questions over Infantino

The latest controversy also places FIFA president Gianni Infantino under fresh scrutiny.

There is, however, no evidence in the reports that Mr Infantino personally ordered the case to be dismissed or took part in the decision.

The issue has attracted attention partly because of Infantino’s relationship with Véron Mosengo-Omba, the president of the Congolese football federation.

The two men have a long professional relationship, having studied at university in Switzerland and later worked within European and world football structures.

The New York Times reported that the handling of the eligibility case has raised questions about whether political considerations within football influenced the decision. FIFA maintains that its judicial committees are independent.

The timing is also significant. Infantino is expected to meet African football officials in Cape Verde this week as he seeks support ahead of the FIFA presidential election scheduled for March.

Africa has 54 FIFA member associations, making the continent an important voting bloc.

Previous cases raise questions

FIFA has previously taken strong action against teams that fielded ineligible players.

South Africa forfeited a 2026 World Cup qualifier against Lesotho after using suspended midfielder Teboho Mokoena.

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Bolivia also forfeited two 2018 World Cup qualifying matches after fielding Nelson Cabrera, who was found to be ineligible.

The new DR Congo revelations have therefore raised questions about whether FIFA applied its rules consistently in Nigeria’s case.

For Nigeria, the issue is now bigger than simply returning to the 2026 World Cup.

The Super Eagles have already missed the tournament, but the NFF and NSC could still seek a review of FIFA’s handling of the complaint and consider possible financial claims.