Huge expectations currently being held by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for a ticket to next year’s World Cup might not be straightforward after all, even if their petition against DR Congo is upheld by FIFA.
Sports247 gathered that, while the NFF may have concrete evidence that DR Congo used ‘ineligible players’ in their World Cup qualification play-off final against the Super Eagles, it might not be enough to earn a ticket.
This follows confirmation that a major loose point in the unfolding drama is that DR Congo’s alleged ‘ineligible players’ had actually been cleared officially by FIFA before they started featuring in the World Cup qualifiers.
At the same time, analysts have pointed out that the NFF’s faults in the eligibility of DR Congo’s players are actually based on political implications, not strictly regarding football’s rules and regulations.
A survey by Emmanuel Akindubuwa of BBC Sport Africa also noted that, while dual nationality is not accepted in DR Congo, FIFA allows a player to obtain the passport of a country they switch to and still retain that of their previous nation.
Akindubuwa also noted that only one out of three likely pronouncements by FIFA in response to the NFF’s petition would favour Nigeria, as the world football governing body might opt to sanction DR Congo without stopping them from the World Cup.
He expatiated: “When a formal protest reaches FIFA, there are several possible outcomes: Dismissal – FIFA may find the NFF’s evidence insufficient and close the case, leaving DR Congo’s World Cup qualification intact.
“Investigation and administrative sanction: FIFA could investigate and, if it finds breaches in the clearance process, sanction the federation (e.g., fines, warnings) but leave results unchanged.
“Sporting sanctions: In the most serious cases, FIFA or the Confederation of African Football could order a forfeit or award the match to the other side, or deduct points in group-stage contexts.”
Sports247 noted that the above analysis points at a very strong possibility that the NFF’s hope of getting the Super Eagles to next year’s Mundial through ‘the back door’ might not work after all.
At most, FIFA could give DR Congo a hefty fine and leave them in the race for the intercontinental play-offs in March, unless the NFF step up their protest sternly in the global body’s boardroom.