Shehu Dikko, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), has declared that Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup campaign is effectively over from a competitive standpoint, with the final decision now resting with FIFA.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had earlier submitted a formal protest to FIFA, alleging that DR Congo fielded ineligible players during the African play-off final.
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Speaking to journalists on Thursday after meeting with Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Dikko confirmed that the matter remains under review.
“The World Cup is a closed chapter for us competitively, but the legal matter is pending,” Dikko said. “The relevant independent bodies within FIFA will decide.”
Despite the ongoing case, Dikko stressed that Nigeria has largely shifted focus from the World Cup setback and is prioritising long-term football development and upcoming tournaments.
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“We have put the World Cup behind us already; whatever happens, it is what it is,” he said. “Our focus is on building for the next competitions, the next AFCON and the next WAFCON. You saw how we pushed performance at the last AFCON in Morocco, and everyone was happy about it.”
However, he maintained that a favourable ruling could still offer a lifeline, potentially paving the way for reinstatement in the intercontinental play-offs scheduled for March.
For now, Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup ambitions hinge not on results on the pitch, but on the verdict of FIFA, a decision that could yet reopen the door for the Nigeria national football team.
