Ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 Playoff Verdict, Fear Grips Nigerian
By Abdulgafar Oladimeji
Millions of Nigerian football fans in the past 24 hours have lived under the grip of the fear of the possible outcome of FIFA’s decision on the petition filed by their authorities against DR Congo.
Nigeria had filed a formal complaint to FIFA alleging that , DR Congo used ineligible players to prosecute their world cup qualifiers campaign against Nigeria , during the qualifiers held last November in Morocco.
Our checks revealed that hundreds thousand of Nigerians in the past 24 hours have laid ambush on FIFA official media sources, eagerly awaiting when the news pf the decision would be possibly broken.
Tension soak the sports atmosphere across Nigerian borders and beyond .
Nigerian sports writers have kept vigil on FIFA and CAF to avoid ben beaten to what has largely become the rave of the moments across Nigerian space.
The matter has gained prominences across all new media platforms, the traditional media is awash with enquiries from anxious millions of Nigerians bitten by the bug of knowing , if their darling side would pick the ticket to go ahead to Mexico for the final stage of the world cup qualifiers next March.
Social media flakes experts have gained momentum using the world cup petition bug to catch followers and incite discussions on their social media spaces.
Our correspondent reports that misinformation and disinformation have taken over the media spaces across Nigeria.
The matter has also set Nigerians against themselves, with the major divides professing their opinion on the chances of Nigeria going to the world.
Opinions are divergent between those who feel that Nigerians should forget about going to compete at the biggest football fiesta and go back to the drawing board.
There are those enmeshed in their convictions that the Super Eagles does not deserve another world cup miss, after missing out at the Mundial held in Qatar in 2022.
Nigerian sports journalists and football pundit, Sunday Agunbiade confessed investing precious time in last 24 hours, dispelling rumors and fake news that have continued to mount from multiple sources.
He has continued to assured Nigerians that he would continue to keep vigil on the matter. And the news of the outcome would be relayed once released by FIFA.
Another renown sports journalist, Francis Achi has launched online campaign against fake news, he appealed to Nigerians to ignore information been peddled by sources that lack credibility, he assure Nigerian football fans to continue to exercise restraint, noting that FIFA in its tradition would issue official statements at the appropriate time .
Some section of Nigerians have dismissed the appeal saying it is an attempt to get the ticket to attend the biggest football party through the back door.
Others have expressed their less concern with how the ticket is secured, to this group what is sacrosanct is for the Super Eagles to be on parade at the Mundial.
The DR Congolese defeat Super Eagles on penalties in November to book their place in an intercontinental qualifier for the finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) lodged a complaint to Fifa in December 2025, alleging that the Congolese players namely Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe – were not eligible to represent DR Congo, stating that the duo were former England junior international , that they now have dual nationality , arguing that the Congolese law does not allow for dual citizenship.
Reacting to the tension that has gripped the land , NFF director media ad communication, Ademola Olajire Monday said “Any claims that a ruling has been made are false,”
“Fifa has not communicated any verdict to us or to the Congolese federation.”
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