The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has issued a firm response to Nigeria’s petition to FIFA concerning the alleged fielding of ineligible players during the CAF World Cup playoffs, further intensifying tensions between both football nations.
Reacting to the development, DR Congo’s Director of Football, Hérita Ilunga, dismissed Nigeria’s claims and emphasized FIFA’s stance on eligibility, stressing that the world football governing body prioritizes sporting nationality, not legal nationality, in determining player eligibility.
“FIFA does not reason in terms of legal nationality but rather in terms of sporting nationality. If that is the case, I advise you, dear Naija brothers, to focus more on the AFCON,” Ilunga stated, adding a touch of confidence to his remarks.
Ilunga went further to criticize what he described as attempts to seek victory off the pitch, urging Nigeria to channel its energy into football performance rather than legal disputes. “If you can’t win on the pitch, don’t try to win from the back door. The World Cup has to be played with dignity and confidence — not with lawyers’ tricks. Bring it,” he added.
The comments come amid growing scrutiny of CAF World Cup playoff fixtures, with Nigeria reportedly seeking clarification from FIFA over player eligibility rules. While FIFA has yet to issue an official ruling on the petition, DR Congo’s response signals confidence in their compliance with regulations and readiness to settle matters on the pitch.
As the debate continues, attention now shifts back to football action, with fans across Africa keen to see whether the issue escalates further or is resolved within FIFA’s regulatory framework.
Source: Gary Al-Smith
image: https://soccernet.ng
