Nigeria’s hopes of returning to the global football stage were shattered on Sunday night, and the fallout has now taken an unusual twist.
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has accused DR Congo of engaging in voodoo practices during the penalty shootout that decided the African playoff final for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nigeria bowed out after a tense 1-1 draw stretched into penalties, where the Leopards of DR Congo triumphed 4-3 to advance to the intercontinental playoff. The result means Nigeria will miss the World Cup for a second consecutive time, a first since the country’s debut in 1994.
Chelle, visibly furious after the final whistle, was seen confronting the Congolese bench before being restrained.
Speaking after the game, he alleged that DR Congo’s technical crew used supernatural practices to influence the outcome of the shootout.
According to him, “During all the penalty sessions, the DR Congo did some voodoo. Every time. Every time. That was why I was a bit nervous.” The coach added that he noticed someone in the Congolese technical area using “something water” each time a Nigerian player stepped up to take a spot kick.
Nigeria missed three penalties through Calvin Bassey, Moses Simon, and Semi Ajayi, while DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba converted the decisive effort to seal their passage.
The defeat also continues a troubling trend for the Super Eagles, who failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
