Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup fate hangs in the balance with verdict of the NFF’s petition against DR Congo expected to be announced by FIFA this week.
While the entire nation holds it breath, figures behind Nigeria’s petition appear to be less enthusiastic.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko has admitted that the body will move on if the petition fails.
Speaking on the process, Dikko explained it is collaborating with the NFF, and insists Nigeria presented a valid case.
‘The Commission and the NFF are working hand in hand on that, everything the NFF is doing it’s in collaborating with the NSC, as our agency,’ the NSC boss said.
‘We have done what we have to do, it’s not that we are sore losers, it’s all about the rules. If the rules are breached then we have to present it to the relevant bodies that will examine it.
‘At the end of the day we wait for the decision.’
‘We have already put the world cup behind us, but if at the end of the day our petition is found to be correct which I believe it should be, then we have another lifeline and we can take it on from there.’
‘So let us wait and let the relevant bodies deal with it.’
The Super Eagles lost on penalties in the Continental World Cup playoff final to DR Congo, but the NFF has claimed that the Leopards fielded ineligible players.
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As many as six players are argued to hold dual citizenship, which violates the Country’s own laws, and thus they shouldn’t have been cleared by FIFA in the first place.
FIFA will announce its verdict this February ahead of the Intercontinental World Cup playoff which holds next month.
