World football governing body FIFA has officially received a petition filed by Nigeria on the eligibility of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and five others who played for Democratic Republic of Congo against Nigeria in the world cup qualifiers playoff last month.
Dr Congo won the game on penalties to pick a sole ticket to represent Africa at the Intercontinental playoff in March, where they will be two tickets to be at the 2026 World Cup.
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) were made aware of the anomaly that led to the clearance by FIFA for the defender, which they found out beached domestic requirements to become a citizen of Dr Congo for persons born abroad.
If one is a Congolese citizen and acquire another citizenship, you are legally expected to give up one. The main area where dual nationality is temporarily permitted is for those who acquire a second citizenship by birth abroad and must make a choice by age 21.
Wan-Bissaka was born in England and decided to pledge his international future to Dr Congo at the age of 25. A clear contravention of what is required to legally be a citizen of the country going by their constitution, and to further complicate issues he didn’t renounce his England citizenship.
FIFA cleared him to play with no knowledge of the local constitutional requirements to become a citizen of Dr Congo. When flagged by Nigeria they immediately started an investigation which could possibly lead to expulsion of Dr Congo from the 2026 World Cup.
It’s the same for five others in the squad who played in th world cup qualifiers playoff, and FIFA is expected to make a judgement on the case before March when the continental playoff will take place in Mexico.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
