Contrary to widespread claims circulating online, FIFA has not yet officially announced a decision on the eligibility protest filed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) against the Congolese Association Football Federation (FECOFA).

As of mid-afternoon West Africa Time on February 16, no ruling has been published on FIFA’s official website, nor released through recognized international wire services.

● Confusion Triggered by Viral Documents

Two conflicting narratives are currently circulating:

1. A detailed “FIFA Disciplinary Committee judgment” awarding Nigeria a 3–0 victory and qualification.

2. Reports claiming FIFA has rejected Nigeria’s appeal and upheld DR Congo’s advancement.

However, neither version has been confirmed through official channels.

The so-called “full judgment” document contains multiple inconsistencies, including placeholder references such as “Player X,” incorrect competition terminology (“Best Losers Playoff Round”), and formatting that does not match standard FIFA disciplinary publications raising serious doubts about its authenticity.

● Background to the Dispute

The controversy stems from the November 2025 CAF playoff final between Nigeria and DR Congo, which ended 1–1 before DR Congo won 4–3 on penalties to advance to the March 2026 inter-confederation playoffs.

In December 2025, the NFF filed a protest alleging that certain DR Congo players who had recently switched nationality were ineligible under FIFA’s change-of-association regulations.

FIFA subsequently opened a review of the matter.

● Current Status

At this time:

• No official disciplinary decision has been released publicly.

• No formal confirmation has been issued by FIFA, CAF, or the NFF.

• Social media reports remain speculative.

Until an announcement appears directly from FIFA’s official platforms, the case remains pending.

There are not two confirmed rulings, only online speculation.

FIFA has not officially ruled yet. Any document claiming a final verdict should be treated cautiously until verified through official channels.

When a decision is made, it will be published through FIFA’s recognized communication platforms.