FIFA Fines Nigeria and DR Congo Following World Cup Qualification Play-Off Incidents

FIFA has sanctioned both the Nigeria Football Federation and the DR Congo Football Association after disciplinary breaches occurred during last year’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification play-off.

The decisive match, held at the Prince Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat, saw DR Congo’s Leopards secure a spot in the intercontinental play-offs by defeating Nigeria’s Super Eagles 4–3 on penalties. During the game, Meschack Elia equalized Frank Onyeka’s opener to force the shootout.

According to FIFA’s latest disciplinary report for the qualifiers, both federations committed separate offences during the tightly contested fixture on November 16, 2025.

Nigeria was fined 1,000 Swiss francs for breaches related to order and security after spectators were found throwing objects during the match. This violated Articles 17 and 17.2.b of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

DR Congo faced a heavier sanction, receiving a 5,000 Swiss franc fine after supporters used laser pointers or similar electronic devices in the stadium, contravening Article 17.2.d of the code.

FIFA emphasized that disciplinary decisions are based on the specific circumstances of each case and remain subject to appeal. The publicly released sanctions summary is intended for media information, with official legal decisions communicated directly to the federations.

The sanctions come amid ongoing scrutiny over Nigeria’s protest regarding alleged use of ineligible players by DR Congo in the African play-off. The NFF lodged a formal complaint on December 15, 2025, claiming that the Congolese federation misled FIFA when processing nationality switches for several overseas-born players.

The complaint listed multiple foreign-born players who featured against the Super Eagles, including Lionel Mpasi, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Arthur Masuaku, Samuel Moutoussamy, Ngal’ayel Mukau, Noah Sadiki, Nathanael Mbuku, and Cedric Bakambu, along with substitutes Timothy Fayulu, Matthieu Epolo, Joris Kayembe, Edo Kayembe, Steve Kapuadi, Gedeon Kalulu, Michel-Ange Balikwisha, and Mario Stroeykens. Nigeria argued that some players received clearance only days before the match, despite earlier call-ups.

As DR Congo prepare for the intercontinental play-off—where they are set to face either New Caledonia or Jamaica for a World Cup berth—two of the disputed players, Balikwisha and Stroeykens, have been left out of the latest 26-man squad.