FIFA has fined the Nigeria Football Federation and the DR Congo Football Federation over disciplinary breaches during their disputed 2026 World Cup African play-off final.
The match between the Nigeria national football team and the DR Congo national football team was played in Morocco on 16 November 2025. DR Congo won 4–3 on penalties to progress to the intercontinental play-offs.
In its latest disciplinary overview, FIFA said Nigeria was punished for a breach related to crowd behaviour. The sanction followed incidents in which spectators threw objects during the match, an offence under the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
The Nigerian federation was fined 1,000 Swiss francs for the violation.
DR Congo received a heavier sanction after supporters were found to have used laser pointers or similar electronic devices during the game. FIFA said the act also breached the disciplinary code governing order and safety at matches.
As a result, the Congolese football body was fined 5,000 Swiss francs.
The penalties come months after tensions surrounding the play-off fixture. Following the defeat, Nigeria lodged a formal protest with FIFA over the eligibility of several DR Congo players.
The complaint argued that the Congolese federation misled football authorities while processing nationality switches for a number of overseas-born players.
Nigeria’s petition, submitted in December 2025, listed several players who featured in the match and asked FIFA to investigate whether they were cleared to represent DR Congo before the decisive fixture.
Among those named were Lionel Mpasi, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Arthur Masuaku, Samuel Moutoussamy, Ngal’ayel Mukau, Noah Sadiki, Nathanaël Mbuku and Cédric Bakambu, alongside a group of substitutes.
The protest has yet to receive a final ruling from FIFA, leaving uncertainty over the outcome of the qualification dispute.
Meanwhile, DR Congo are preparing for the intercontinental play-offs, where they are scheduled to face the winner of the semi-final between New Caledonia national football team and the Jamaica national football team for a place at the 2026 World Cup.
