Following disciplinary findings from a qualifying match between the Nigerian national football team and the DR Congo national football team in the competition for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, FIFA, the world football governing body, fined the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Congolese Association Football Federation.
ENigeria Newsaper gathered that FIFA’s most recent disciplinary summary covering recent qualifying fixtures states that both football authorities committed separate violations during the match played on November 16, 2025.
Following reports that fans had thrown objects onto the field during the game, which was deemed a violation of the governing body’s regulations regarding stadium safety and order, the Nigerian federation was fined 1,000 Swiss francs.
The football association of the Democratic Republic of the Congo was likewise penalized, albeit more severely. FIFA claimed that during the match, supporters used laser devices or other comparable technological equipment, which is against the organization’s disciplinary rules. As a result, the Congolese federation was fined 5,000 Swiss francs.
FIFA noted that such disciplinary rulings are based on the circumstances surrounding each case and may still be contested through the organisation’s appeal process.
The governing body also explained that while disciplinary summaries are published for media information, the detailed legal decisions are formally communicated to the affected national associations.
The Nigeria–DR Congo fixture was among several World Cup qualifying matches reviewed by FIFA, with other federations and players around the world also facing sanctions for offences ranging from crowd misconduct to breaches of competition regulations.
In the meantime, the NFF’s separate protest on DR Congo’s purported use of ineligible players during the African play-off stage continues to garner attention.
After losing the decisive tie, Nigeria filed the protest, claiming that the Congolese federation had misrepresented the nationality status of a number of players who were foreign-born and participated in the game.
Recall that the petition, which was filed on December 15, 2025, asked FIFA to look into the players’ eligibility and think about potential disciplinary measures, such as removing DR Congo from the qualifying process if misconduct is proven.
Among the players listed in the complaint were Lionel Mpasi, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Arthur Masuaku, Samuel Moutoussamy, Ngal’ayel Mukau, Noah Sadiki, Nathanaël Mbuku and Cédric Bakambu, who started the game, while Timothy Fayulu, Matthieu Epolo, Joris Kayembe, Edo Kayembe, Steve Kapuadi, Gédéon Kalulu, Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Mario Stroeykens were named among the substitutes.
The protest document, which later circulated publicly through journalist Osasu Obayiuwana, argued that some of the players were cleared to represent DR Congo only shortly before the crucial play-off encounter despite being called up earlier.
DR Congo is getting ready for the next round of the qualification series, where they will play the winner of the semi-final between the national football teams of New Caledonia and Jamaica on March 31 in order to qualify for the 2026 World Cup while FIFA makes its final decision.
The Congolese side has also omitted two of the players mentioned in the dispute, Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Mario Stroeykens, from its latest 26-man squad ahead of the upcoming matches.
