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By JOE APU
Nigeria’s football administration has come under renewed scrutiny following allegations surrounding a purported petition filed against Democratic Republic of the Congo over eligibility concerns during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
In a strongly worded statement, Prince Harrison Jalla, Chairman of the Advocacy for Nigeria Football Reform Concepts, accused the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of misleading the public and government officials with what he described as a “fake petition” submitted to FIFA. Jalla alleged that the petition, which reportedly questioned the citizenship status of certain Congolese players, was deliberately mishandled. According to him, the document was filed outside the stipulated deadline, sent to an incorrect email address, and lacked the required protest fees—rendering it invalid from the outset.
He further claimed that the move was designed to create false hope among Nigerians that the Super Eagles could secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup through administrative means, despite failing to do so on the pitch.
The criticism also extended to the National Sports Commission, with Jalla accusing its leadership of reinforcing the narrative to the Presidency and the general public without due verification.
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Raising a series of questions, Jalla demanded transparency from the football authorities, asking for evidence of the petition, details of its submission, and any official response from FIFA. He also queried whether any appeal had been lodged at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Meanwhile, DR Congo have reportedly progressed in the qualification race, moving on to secure their place at the tournament via the playoffs against Jamaica.
The controversy adds to growing concerns over governance within Nigerian football, particularly following the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for consecutive World Cups in 2022 and 2026.
As of the time of filing this report, the NFF has not issued an official response to the allegations.
