₦airaland Forum

caprikon:
FIFA citing technicalities could be a face saving measure. Same technicalities were breached in the Mokoena case but they still ruled against SA. The DRC case is a very tricky one and any judgement that goes against the result on the pitch requires irrefutable evidence.

Like I mentioned, wouldn't be surprised if FIFA amends their Statutes to provide clarity for future cases.

The big irony for me is the fact that Nigeria helped SA reach the world cup while losing out in the end. We should have allowed Benin qualify instead.

Shebi I said it then that Benin should qualify instead, we would have dealt motsepe a big blow by using our home based players for that match which I suggested here.

We are too purists for my liking in our sports we need to adapt to the modern tactics of psychological warfare! How can Congo and SA be using a whole soccer giant like Nigeria to play kalokalo! 😂 omo we no try the World Cup was already slipping away from our hands then we should have use that Benin match to protest SA playing most of their wcq games at home by just fielding our home based players

Damioduso1:
NFF x DRC Protest - This is a scandal: A must-read with a proper context ⬇️

By Kunle Solaja.

Nigeria’s hopes of returning to the FIFA World Cup have finally collapsed after it emerged that the country’s protest against the eligibility of some players used by the Democratic Republic of Congo in last year’s African play-off was dismissed on procedural grounds. Sports

The protest followed Nigeria’s defeat to the DR Congo national football team in the decisive African play-off match for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, played on November 16, 2025, at the Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco. The match ended 1–1 after regulation and extra time before the Congolese side prevailed in a sudden-death penalty shootout.

In the weeks after the match, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) raised concerns about the eligibility of several Congolese players, alleging irregularities in the issuance of passports that enabled them to feature in the encounter.

However, an inside source within FIFA, the world football governing body, has disclosed that the Nigerian protest did not meet the procedural requirements for it to be considered by FIFA’s judicial bodies.

According to the source, the NFF’s complaint was received by FIFA on November 28, 2025, nearly two weeks after the match in Rabat.

Under the Regulations Governing the Preliminary Competition for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, protests regarding player eligibility must follow strict timelines.

“Article 8 of the FIFA World Cup Preliminary Competition Regulations outlines the strict procedures for filing match protests.”

Article 8 of the regulations stipulates that any protest must first be communicated to the match commissioner within two hours of the completion of the match, and then followed by a detailed written submission within 24 hours.

The article states:
“Protests regarding the eligibility of players selected for matches in the preliminary competition shall be submitted in writing within two hours of the match and followed by a full written report within 24 hours.”

Because Nigeria’s protest was submitted on November 28 for a match played on November 16, it fell well outside the allowable window.

The source further revealed that the mandatory protest fee of 1,000 Swiss francs, which must accompany such submissions, was also not paid. As a result, the case was not formally processed by FIFA’s judicial bodies.

“The appeal that was widely reported was never actually entertained by the FIFA judicial authorities because it did not meet the procedural requirements,” the source explained, adding that the NFF was formally informed of the situation on March 9, 2026.

It took another week before the body made the decision known, indirectly with a claim of appeal of the judgment.

Simple Protest, our NFF no Sabi. Lord have mercy

Don’t blame the nff too much for donkey years they never mastered off the pitch politics so they are still learners including us as supporters and fans. We just think everything must be on the pitch of play. Look at the Libya issue but for Ekong and the players insisting Nff was ready to go ahead play that Afcon qualifier, was it not someone on this thread that brought the attention of everyone on the South Africans fielding a suspended player? So it’s obvious nff don’t pay attention to details and we as fans have this superiority complex that we can win on the pitch always no matter the happenings off the pitch. Our players were kicked all over in the final in 2023 while the ref looked away but instead we blamed our players for not winning, in the recent afcon in semi final the ref spoiled our transition play with his dubious officiating but instead we blamed our players again. Under our nose SA played most wcq games at home but we were making noise that we should be beating everyone no matter what.

Una never see anything yet. To win Afcon again or qualify for the World Cup will be a tall order if our Nff don’t sit up and know how to fight for our national interest. And we Nigerians should understand that corruption is now global and no longer a Nigerian problem alone the earlier we understand that the better. I congratulate the Moroccans honestly dem too sabi you don’t expect me to spend billions and not fight for what I think is lawfully mine. The Ivorians did it they just follow suit!

mekabuachi:
Why did fifa bother making laws, when they know they won't abide by it anyways?
Very corrupt organisation

Am even so happy that both decisions and outcomes came out same day as it makes nonsense of those who claim that the outcomes of games must always be decided on the pitch 😂

Make I hear anyone coming out to mention anyone going thru the backdoor again the thunder wey go fire them go be pro max!

elyte89:
I want to ask a question Does the Court of Arbitration for Sport have an expedited procedure that allows it to decide cases within a single day, similar to the fast-tracked appeal decisions sometimes issued by the Confederation of African Football just like the Morocco 🇲🇦 and Senegal 🇸🇳 case ….dts the only way out to get something out of Nigeria petition

Guy give it up on that Nigeria case o ti lo. FIFA knew what it was doing dragging on that case this long to deny it on technicalities. If they really wanted the eagles in the World Cup they would have ruled in our favour. I don’t see CAS upturning that decision and even that of Senegal. These are purely political decisions!

Football is purely business and politically inclined now! I also think there are so many countries in breach just like Congo and FIFA may not want to rock the boat too much likewise CAS! Imagine both decisions upturned, will that will not lead to another round of chaos? The deed is done bruv

opes:
Jamaica will be ready to pick up from where Nigeria stopped if they lose to DR Congo, unless any of the affected players are not used.

Exactly, no wonder DRC had to drop some players for the game, there are surely insiders who were feeding both the NFF and DRC info on the matter

AAA593:
So Nigeria truly get case o

Fifa dey use technicality for dat kind big matter.
U see dat big eye fifa president and dat frog eye CAF president ehn.. Dem too corrupt.

Jamaica fit even win DRC Congo for Playoffs. Dem good

It's a big shame that the same technicality couldn't have been applied to Morocco's petition at CAF. Both FIFA and CAF have set a bad precedent for the game. NFF, too, should be called out for the shoddy practice of not even paying the required fee.

In both matters, it's so clear that the highest level of politicking is what determines outcomes of cases like this, and not necessarily the rules.

Joebie:
FIFA wants to give us a lifeline should a couple of the Gulf states boycott the WC

You’re now a conspiracy theorist Abi 😂

You wan raise hope for here like apc renewed hope or hopelessness take your time o

Meanwhile for those who think football must always be won on pitch and not through the backdoor Morocco just taught everyone a lesson, in the modern world you can choose not to play fair and still win!

COOL10:
Tell me why some white folks won't keep looking down on the AFCON

They are justified after all! What a shame and if time is not taken many European based players may just start avoiding the competition after all it’s better not to lose their spot in their clubs

Anyone hosting the Afcon now must and will win at all cost. I even see Morocco bidding to host again! Is this what European based players will sacrifice their time for? Not worth it as this will lay a bad precedence!

Papi85:
The same fifa and caf that allowed SA to host home games of countries they re in the same group with? Nonsense

Omo motsepe has finished African football 😂

opes:
Another case is going to CAS this week. Na wah for CAF oo. Anyway, we know Senegal as the champions, the memories of their bold fight in the final cannot be erased from our minds.

For the likes of Sunday Oliseh who mocked Nigeria over the petition to FIFA, saying we should win on the field and not through the back door, what will they say to Morocco now?

CAS may uphold the decision

As for the oliseh fool he will support CAF remember his wife is Moroccan

mrwilliams9:
CAF should have stripped the title from Senegal the day of or when they had their initial assessment.

To come back 2 months later to change course is just very very poor from CAF.

Morocco will not feel like winners and Senegal has already celebrated.

No one really wins.

If this current CAF president does not exit the position omo AFCON will soon become a joke, people will just be filing petitions anyhow even if they are knocked out of the competition.

For the love of the game CAF should have used technicalities to dislodge the Moroccans just like FIFA have done in our case against DR Congo and still find a way to compensate Morocco much later. It’s looking like CAF is owing Morocco so much money and they just have to do something! Na wa o! With the way Morocco also refused to go on with wafcon it’s worrisome how they have held CAF hostage

I hope this is not true

https://x.com/garyalsmith/status/2034010407019458969?s=46&t=tk-1hGRx-HBpOmsos8uccA

elyte89:
The CAF Appeal Board decided that in application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 (“the Match”), with the result of the Match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF).

Wetin this one mean? 😂

AndSunGorilla:
O ye of little faith. It shall be appealed. Don't lose hope sir, never ever ever give up my brother. Once their is life, their is HOPE!!!!!

wow 😂 my brother CAS hardly overturn FIFA verdict o! If it happens in this case then God and the entire trinity must be Nigerians 😂

elyte89:
Karlovich,johnbullmyson don win us 😃😃😃😃,dem reject our petition ;FIFA say make we rest 😃

😂 they can gladly take their lap of honour now!

TheSuperNerd:
Thank You Big Goke... I wont stop. Not even this below will stop me...

😜 stop it….. na my secret be this nah

TheSuperNerd:
Hi Great Thread of Nigerian Football, it is indeed a good day to be alive and be excited for what 2026 still promises.

Today is My Birthday and I want to remind everyone out there not to give up on whatever their dreams, aims, aspirations, project pursuits, goals, etc are.
Victor Osimhen did not and look at him today and his story is still not done. John Mikel Obi did not and now he is a bonafide Nigerian legend. Rashidi "Rasheed" Yekini did not and he remains the one of the pinnacles among African Strikers today.


Lastly, on a flip note, Elyte89 is still not giving up on his Super Eagles job dream despite we all knowing how impossible it is and he is also not giving up on Nigeria heading to USCAMEX 2026 World Cup, so honestly what excuse you get?

Cheers to me and Cheers to us all.... God Bless You.

Happy Birthday 🎂 boss you’re one of the reasons I keep tab on this thread. Many happy returns and please don’t stop being you!

Emmy450:
annoying piece of sh×t. Make him get out

😂 chai na so this boy vex una reach?

BankyGee:
Them suppose flog that keeper. Them no dey save those kind shots.

The keeper take am personal! no be me osihmen go use collect world best abi na ballon dor 😂

TheSuperNerd:
When I saw the Osimhen goal notification, I went to check Trabzonspor's game and saw that Onuachu has also scored.

I am tired of that tallie. He is determined not to be caught up by the Monster machine. Onuachu on 21 now, Osimhen moves into 21's mirror number 12.

Be like say those boys don use money bet o 😂

Samueltemi337:
https://x.com/Buchi_Laba/status/2032887278922547431

Both onauchu and osihmen just want to set Turkey on fire! Abeg make dem take am easy o 😂 eleyi por por

HustlaOfLagos:
What if the person quits after 2 weeks?

Opportunity to make more money by the employer, hire another person and the cycle continues and later blame immigrants for the abuse 😂

HustlaOfLagos:
The working system, strong institutions & strong judiciaries help in no small measure... and we wont have that in Nigeria in years to come because the likes of Wike can still buy cars for judges without anyone raising voice.

Watching a documentary about the genesis of the whole Iran / Israel palava and the usual suspects are all over it & are repeating historical playbooks again. The ones that accused China of espionage.. This life sha, if you don't look deep, they will just be whinning you with their democracy & how they appear innocent on the outside .


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4yortSrUBs

Important to note that after supporting Iraq quietly against Iran, they still went after Saddam Hussein

😂 I go lie for you? That’s why it’s safe not to be emotionally attached to any side. Nobody holy pass!

You’ve not watched that video where former pm Boris said many years ago Uk owed Iran money and never paid back? This life just earn your pay o, no too mind wetin no concern you personally!

lbrichman2:
My brother
Na wetin we dey discuss for board meeting sef
Who leaked the info to you..

Vodoo 😂

abeg @Thesupernerd nack me that Chelle vodoo meme!

HustlaOfLagos:
Quite ironic that someone who wants a Nobel peace prize for stopping wars has bombed a country unprovoked. He did say something along the lines that the gloves are off as he did not get it. He is calling for a ceasefire - imagine someone bombing you, killing your President, killing innocent kids & then being the one asking for a ceasefire

Even more interesting is that the so called good guys like UK, EU are not talking about the 175 people that were reportedly bombed by the US, mostly children. If it was China or Russia, we will never hear the last of it
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-girls-school-missile-strike-trump-israel-preliminary-inquiry-b2936875.html

China bad, UK good

Dem go explain tire, today my guts told me, tomorrow it was Vance who told me, another day they have nuclear weapons, another time they are killing our people all sorts of silly unverified excuses!

Honestly but for a working system these folks are not better than our leaders back home that we curse every day! The so called messiah anointed by God himself has become the legendary terminator of the universe 😂

lavida001:
White pipo will always defend their own. The earlier black man know his place the better for all of us.

Na Aunty kemi you suppose tell this one to not us!

lbrichman2:
In that case, we should be getting ready to pack our bags and move from Turkey to Germany..
If their starting bid is €115M, its almost certain that they'll get him

If Gala makes it pass Liverpool osihmen price go increase again o!

HustlaOfLagos:
Isn't that what they are doing with the benefit system too

Negative net migration coming soon, I am sure there is a way they can present this to make a case for the people who will be settled soon. I doubt they will though as it seems they are hellbent on closing those gates so the boriswave folk won't claim benefits

I wonder why they have refused to point out what those people do and try to restrict them to "low skilled" people, parroted by the likes of Kemi Badenoch. The care sector also seems to have lots of vacancies at the moment and I know it will go up even more within the next 1 - 2 years

Interesting months ahead

It’s nonsensical classifying those who look after elderly and vulnerable people low skilled, bottom wipers and not adding value to society. Indirectly you’re shaming the elderly and vulnerable all on the altar of politics! Terrible. I still think the real fear is the exit of carers from the sector after getting ilr and opening the doors again will make them look stupid!

HustlaOfLagos:
They obviously do not care as long as people are driven away

It is the political class that has to make sensible, informed decisions to guide all but even them seem to not know what they are doing / what they want

The political class is totally confused on one hand they know the economic damage they are going to cause and on another hand they want to please the people so what they continue do is to pass the buck to successive governments while successive governments will continue to blame the previous governments! No one wan put their head

HustlaOfLagos:
Citizens want more especially when the other party is offering way more

What the citizens or locals actually want (drive every person that don’t look like them irrespective of status out of the uk) is impossible by any govt. No party can offer that no matter their campaign slogan. They promised so much more during the Brexit campaign but got nothing that looked like it. They can wave all manner of flags at the end even prison and police workers dem no get!

AgentXxx:
This is most ridiculous answer from a Rep from the (Home Office) at the today’s Home Affairs Committee Session.

Q: Where do you get data that Immigrants before and after ILR access benefits?

(Which is their major fear of the boriswave migrant getting ILR)

A: it doesn’t need data 😂

Q: Then on what basis is the government making decisions of the future when they have no data of the past and present?

A: stammers 😂

Now I see how the court would win against this clueless set of leaders.

You can watch the video via this instagram link https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVwGn_bDT7p/?igsh=MTJzNXFvaXdpZzdtYw==

Or search the Migrant Channel on it.

e go stammer tire after all we have starmer as PM, so why will he not stammer? That's always the outcome of the politics of populism and bigotry, no data or principles to back it up. It's like Trump and his gang who continue to struggle daily to justify the attack or invasion on Iran

Lexusgs430:
Your COS code does not allow sponsorship, i don't think any immigration lawyer can wiggle any room.....
Your option might be visiting visa(which is a slight consolation and expensive) or once they arrive, they raise their hands (hopefully you would have a reason to file a successful application)......

On the alternative, hunt down Eni Ojah or Sir CTM on Tiktok, and ask your questions on one of their live sessions......

From the way the question was asked, it looks like the family is in the UK, the op may want to clarify that though!