20.2.2026
National Sports Commission chairman Shehu Dikko said Nigeria’s chances of going to the 2026 World Cup is a closed case, but he’s optimistic FIFA can open a backdoor for the Super Eagles.
But the world soccer governing body FIFA remains mute on the petition Nigeria filed against Congo DR with the intercontinental play offs just two weeks to go. In its 2025 Court of Arbitration for Sports and Football Annual Report, FIFA did not make any reference to Nigeria’s petition against Congo DR.
This has somehow given credence to speculations FIFA might have kicked out the petition. On Monday there were media reports the world soccer governing body has dismissed Nigeria’s petition, but the Nigeria Football Federation said they haven’t been notified of any decision by FIFA.
The NFF submitted its petition on December 15, 2025, a few weeks after the Super Eagles failed to subdue Congo DR in the CAF World Cup play offs. They made a good start against Gabon giving Nigerians hope but in the final game they lost 4-3 penalty shoot-out to DR Congo in Rabat.
“The World Cup is a closed chapter for us competitively, but the legal matter is pending. The relevant independent bodies within FIFA will decide,” Dikko said in Abuja on Thursday.
But from all indications Congo DR is headed for the playoff in March. Football analysts believe the NFF is chasing shadows.