FIFA rejected Nigeria’s protest over DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi partly because the Nigerian Football Federation allegedly sent its petition to the wrong email address and filed the complaint late, according to details now emerging from the disputed case.
The development adds a new layer to the controversy surrounding Nigeria’s failed 2026 World Cup qualification campaign, after a New York Times investigation reported that FIFA officials had themselves identified concerns over Mpasi’s eligibility while the case was being considered.
Nigeria had lodged a complaint after losing to DR Congo in the African play-off final in November 2025, with Mpasi among the players whose eligibility was questioned by the NFF.
DR Congo won the decisive encounter 4-3 on penalties after the match ended 1-1 following extra time, then went on to defeat Jamaica in the intercontinental playoff and secure a place at the 2026 World Cup.
According to the latest account, FIFA cited procedural shortcomings when it rejected Nigeria’s complaint.
A highly placed source at the National Sports Commission told Vanguard that one of the grounds given was that the NFF had sent its petition to the General Secretary rather than through FIFA’s designated legal portal.
The source questioned that explanation, arguing that correspondence from national associations would ordinarily be received by the General Secretary before being directed to the appropriate department.
The second ground reportedly cited by FIFA was that Nigeria’s complaint had been filed after the applicable deadline.
That explanation is also being challenged by the Nigerian side, particularly in light of the seriousness of the eligibility allegation.
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The issue has gained renewed importance following the New York Times investigation, which reported that FIFA’s legal officials had concluded that Mpasi had not completed the required documentation to change his international allegiance from France to DR Congo.
Mpasi had represented France at youth level before switching allegiance to DR Congo.
Despite the reported internal concerns, FIFA allowed him to continue representing DR Congo as the country progressed through the qualification process.
The New York Times reported that FIFA considered a number of possible responses to Nigeria’s complaint, including awarding the relevant match to Nigeria, imposing sanctions on DR Congo, replacing DR Congo with Nigeria in the subsequent playoff against Jamaica or taking no action because of the timing of Nigeria’s complaint.
DR Congo ultimately remained in the competition.
The latest disclosure puts the focus not only on whether Mpasi was eligible, but also on the procedure through which Nigeria’s complaint was rejected.
The NFF’s original protest had alleged that DR Congo fielded players who were not properly eligible to represent the country, with Mpasi among those identified.
Under FIFA regulations, fielding an ineligible player can lead to a match being forfeited.
FIFA has previously imposed sporting sanctions in similar cases, including changing results in World Cup qualifying matches after eligibility breaches were established.
Nigeria’s complaint was nevertheless dismissed, leaving the Super Eagles without a route back into the qualification process.
The new explanation also raises questions about how FIFA handled the communication between the NFF and its various departments.
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The NSC source described the email issue as a weak basis for rejecting a complaint, arguing that national associations routinely correspond with the General Secretary before matters are directed internally.
But unless the underlying FIFA decision and correspondence are made public, the precise procedural requirements applicable to Nigeria’s submission remain a matter of dispute.
What is not in dispute is the consequence.
Nigeria lost its World Cup playoff to DR Congo and missed the tournament, while DR Congo progressed through the intercontinental play-off and secured qualification.
The controversy has now shifted from the original allegation of player ineligibility to a wider question over how FIFA dealt with Nigeria’s complaint particularly following claims that the governing body’s own officials had identified an eligibility problem involving Mpasi.
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