Nigeria is considering seeking compensation from FIFA over financial losses associated with the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following fresh revelations concerning the eligibility of a Democratic Republic of Congo player.

A senior official of Nigeria’s National Sports Commission told ESPN that Nigerian authorities are reviewing their options after reports emerged that FIFA had determined DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi had not completed the required process to represent the country.

“When we said we had written a petition to FIFA, people accused us of all sorts of things. I think this has proven that we were correct that DRC fielded ineligible players,” the official told ESPN.

The development has reignited controversy surrounding Nigeria’s elimination from the World Cup qualifying campaign and could prompt the country to seek further action from FIFA.

The Super Eagles were eliminated by DR Congo in the African play-off final after the match ended 1-1 following extra time, with the Congolese side winning on penalties.

DR Congo subsequently defeated Jamaica in the intercontinental play-off to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

According to reports citing internal FIFA documents, the world governing body was aware of concerns surrounding Mpasi’s eligibility. The goalkeeper had previously represented France at youth level and was therefore required to complete the necessary international switch process before representing DR Congo in competitive matches.

Despite the reported eligibility concerns, FIFA did not impose a sanction that would have removed DR Congo from the qualification process.

The latest revelations have now led Nigerian officials to consider whether FIFA could be held responsible for losses incurred as a result of the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the tournament.

The National Sports Commission official said no course of action had been ruled out as Nigerian authorities assess the implications of the reported findings.

Among the potential losses being considered are revenues that the Nigeria Football Federation and the national team could have generated through participation at the World Cup.

Nigerian officials could also point to lost sponsorship opportunities, increased commercial exposure, player visibility and other economic benefits associated with appearing at football’s biggest tournament.

Nigeria may further ask FIFA to reopen the matter in light of the reported internal findings concerning Mpasi’s eligibility.

The issue has attracted renewed attention because, according to the reports, FIFA’s legal officials had identified concerns about the player’s eligibility while DR Congo was still permitted to continue in the qualification process.

For Nigeria, the development has brought the circumstances surrounding the Super Eagles’ World Cup elimination back into sharp focus.

The Super Eagles were seeking a return to the World Cup after missing the 2022 tournament, but their defeat to DR Congo ended those hopes.

Nigerian authorities must now determine whether the latest revelations provide sufficient grounds for further action against FIFA and whether any financial compensation can legitimately be pursued.

“Nothing has been decided yet, but we will seriously consider seeking compensation from FIFA for all of the economic losses this has cost Nigeria,” the official said.