In the wake of the 2026 World Cup, a question over Lionel Mpasi’s international eligibility has placed DR Congo’s campaign under fresh scrutiny. The French-born goalkeeper played a prominent role before the Congolese side lost 2-1 to England in the round of 32, but concerns have now emerged over whether his registration was completed correctly.
Quick facts
- Lionel Mpasi represented France 12 times across under-16 and under-17 level.
- Nigeria lodged an objection before the World Cup began.
- The complaint concerned the formal process required for Mpasi to switch sporting nationality to DR Congo.
- FIFA dismissed Nigeria’s case on procedural grounds.
- CONCACAF has said it will examine the matter.
Nigeria’s federation had challenged Mpasi’s eligibility after losing its direct contest with DR Congo. Its case was that the Congolese federation had not fulfilled the required administrative steps for the goalkeeper’s change of association.
The objection was filed before the tournament, with documents connected to the investigation said to be authentic. Yet the FIFA process did not reach a public finding on whether Mpasi was eligible, instead closing the case on technical procedural grounds.
Ibrahim Musa Gusau, who resigned as president of the Nigerian federation after the country missed the World Cup, said he was told only that the appeal had failed on formal grounds. He said no explanation was provided on Mpasi’s actual eligibility.
FIFA said its judicial bodies operate independently and make decisions under the applicable regulations and the specific facts submitted to them. It also stated that president Gianni Infantino had no involvement in the case.
Internal FIFA considerations reportedly included several possible outcomes: awarding Nigeria the result administratively, issuing financial penalties, replacing DR Congo with Nigeria for a play-off against Jamaica, or imposing no sanction because Nigeria’s protest had been submitted after the deadline.
CONCACAF has now confirmed that it will look into the episode. The confederation said any eligibility issue capable of affecting a competition’s integrity or the interests of one of its member associations must be investigated fully and dealt with thoroughly.
For DR Congo, the dispute reaches beyond one goalkeeper and one World Cup exit. It reopens the administrative path that allowed Mpasi, capped by France at youth level, to appear on football’s largest stage for a different national side.
