Former DR Congo international and current Football Director of the Congolese Football Federation, Herita Ilunga, has responded to Nigeria’s challenge over the eligibility of some DR Congo players, insisting that the matter will be judged strictly on sporting nationality, not domestic citizenship laws.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) recently confirmed that it had lodged a formal protest with FIFA, questioning the eligibility of certain DR Congo players who featured in the African play-off final of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The protest came about a month after DR Congo defeated Nigeria in Morocco to secure a place in the next qualification round.
According to the NFF, the petition centres on players who reportedly hold dual nationality and switched their international allegiance shortly before the play-off. Nigeria argues that DR Congo’s constitution does not recognise dual citizenship, raising concerns over whether the affected players were legally qualified to represent the Central African nation.
Although FIFA is said to have cleared the players on the strength of their valid DR Congo passports, Nigeria maintains that they failed to officially renounce their previous citizenships, as required by Congolese law.
“We are waiting,” NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi said on Tuesday.
“The Congolese constitution clearly states that dual nationality is not allowed.
“Some of the players hold European passports — French, Dutch and others. We have submitted our petition because we believe FIFA was misled. FIFA acts based on documents presented to it, and it is not responsible for enforcing a country’s domestic laws. What we are saying is that the clearance process was fraudulent.”
Reacting to the claims, Ilunga, who played for DR Congo between 2004 and 2011, dismissed Nigeria’s argument, stating that FIFA’s decisions are based on sporting rules, not national constitutions.
“FIFA does not reason in terms of legal nationality, but sporting nationality,” Ilunga wrote on X.
“If that is the case, my dear Naija brothers, I advise you to focus on AFCON instead.”
While FIFA has not officially named the players involved, The PUNCH gathered that the case concerns Mario Stroeykens, Michel-Ange Balikwisha, and Matthieu Epolo. All three previously represented Belgium at youth level before switching allegiance to DR Congo.
FIFA approved their change of association on November 11, 12 and 13 respectively. However, the controversy now revolves around whether DR Congo’s domestic citizenship laws were properly followed during the process.
Of the trio, Balikwisha is the only player to have featured for DR Congo at senior level so far. He made his debut against Nigeria during the World Cup play-off in November, coming on in extra time and scoring the penultimate penalty in the shoot-out.
DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba then converted the decisive spot kick, sending his side through to the intercontinental play-offs and ending Nigeria’s qualification hopes.
DR Congo have since been handed a bye into the final of the intercontinental play-off, where they will face the winner of the semi-final between New Caledonia and Jamaica in March 2026 in Mexico.
Advertisement
