Did the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) actually petition FIFA over DR Congo’s alleged fielding of ineligible players in the African 2026 World Cup playoff in Morocco last year? Did the NFF sell a dummy to Nigerians, hoping to deflect attention from the federation’s mismanagement of the country’s bid to return to the World Cup after failing to qualify for the last edition in Qatar?

These were some of the questions that cropped up on Tuesday following DR Congo’s defeat of Jamaica in Mexico to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 52 years.

DR Congo defeated Nigeria in the African play-off final to qualify for the inter-continental playoff in Mexico. Following that defeat, the NFF said that it had petitioned FIFA, urging the world body to disqualify the Leopards for allegedly fielding ineligible players against the Super Eagles.

When it seemed that FIFA had given DR Congo the approval to proceed to the inter-continental playoff, the NFF told Nigerians that it had taken the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).

But many stakeholders are now querying the NFF’s claims following CAS’s silence on the matter and DR Congo’s participation in the playoff.

Abuja-based sports journalist, Joan Iwuchukwu, wrote on her Facebook page yesterday: “Congratulations, Congo DR. Qualifying for World Cup in over 50 years, beating Jamaica 1-0 @ extra time. Please, what has happened to our Appeal?”

Another stakeholder, the proprietor of Cable Sports Academy in Delta State, Coach Edwin Onovwotafe, asked: “Does it mean that Nigeria’s World Cup dream is over? What has happened to NFF’s Appeal to CAS? The NFF should tell us the true situation of things.”

Canada-based Nigerian sports journalist Adewale Ajayi was sarcastic in his reaction to the situation. “Lifeline for Nigeria as NFF can now petition CAS to disqualify DR Congo and give Nigeria easy passage to the World Cup. Our Backdoor dream is still alive. By fire, by force, DR Congo will not go to the World Cup.”

Another stakeholder, Emeka Onyekwere, said the NFF had taken Nigerians for a ride, adding: “If the NFF actually petitioned CAF and also went to CAS, they should show Nigerians FIFA’s verdict on the issue and what CAS has said about it.

“They should also present the receipt of the petition fees they paid to both bodies.”

“What has happened, in my opinion, is that they used the petition ruse to divert attention from the inefficient way they handled our bid to qualify for the World Cup. Imagine playing in a group comprising Lesotho, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Rwanda and the Benin Republic and still failing to pick the ticket. They should all resign?”

DR Congo secured a historic World Cup return on Wednesday morning, increasing Africa’s slot to 10 after beating Jamaica 1-0 after extra time in a tense Intercontinental Playoff clash in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The decisive Path 1 encounter, which kicked off at 10 pm GMT on Tuesday, was settled deep into extra time, with Axel Tuanzebe emerging as the unlikely hero to send the Leopards back to the global stage for the first time in 52 years.

DR Congo first appeared at the World Cup in 1974 when they were still known as Zaire. They became the 47th nation to book a place at the tournament. They will now feature in Group K alongside Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan.

The ten African flagbearers in this year’s World Cup are Tunisia, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco, Algeria, Cape Verde, South Africa, DR Congo, Ghana and Egypt.