**NFF to Challenge FIFA's Decision on World Cup Petition** The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced its intention to appeal to the world's top governing body, FIFA, following the rejection of their petition against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for fielding allegedly ineligible players in their final playoff match in November. The playoff match, which was played in Morocco, ended in a thrilling 4-3 penalty shootout victory for the DRC, with the two teams having drawn 1-1 at the end of extra time. The NFF had lodged a protest with FIFA, claiming that several players from the DRC had been fraudulently cleared to play for their country. NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi confirmed that the federation will challenge FIFA's decision not to uphold their petition. "We have received the decision of the FIFA disciplinary committee, but we are not satisfied with the outcome. We are already in the process of appealing the decision," he said. The appeal process may lead the NFF to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), which is the highest sports court in the world. The CAS has the final say on disputes related to sports governance. This development comes at a critical time for Nigerian football, with the country seeking to secure a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The FIFA Intercontinental Playoffs, which will determine two World Cup tickets, are scheduled to take place in Mexico during the international break of March 23 to 31. The DRC will face the winner of the Jamaica-New Caledonia match on March 27 to battle for one of the tickets to the Mundial, which kicks off in June. The NFF's decision to appeal FIFA's decision is a testament to their commitment to ensuring that the integrity of Nigerian football is maintained. The outcome of this appeal will be closely watched by football fans across the country, who are eager to see their national team secure a spot at the World Cup.