Nigeria coach alleges ‘voodoo’ during World Cup play-off loss
Nigeria’s hopes of returning to the World Cup took another blow on Sunday, and the fallout has stretched well beyond the pitch.
The defeat to DR Congo in Rabat not only ended the Super Eagles’ automatic qualifying campaign but also triggered an unusual accusation from head coach Eric Chelle, who claimed an opposing player performed “voodoo” during the penalty shootout.
Pressure mounts on a struggling Nigerian side
The setback adds to a difficult period for Nigeria, a team that once treated World Cup qualification as routine. The country missed the 2022 tournament in Qatar, and the early signs of tension around this campaign had already raised concern among supporters and analysts.
Several commentators in Nigerian media described the match as a “must-not-lose” situation, given the team’s inconsistent form since the last Africa Cup of Nations.
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Chelle’s accusation
Speaking to reporters after the match, Chelle said he became agitated after noticing repeated gestures from a DR Congo player during the shootout.
According to coverage from Ouest-France, he told journalists: “During the penalties, the guy from Congo did voodoo, all the time, all the time, all the time, that’s why I was angry with him.”
He added that the player appeared to wave his hand “with water or I don’t know what,” a moment also visible in the television broadcast.
As soon as DR Congo converted their fourth penalty, Chelle stormed toward the opposing bench. TV footage captured him gesturing toward a member of the Congolese technical staff, although officials from DR Congo have not publicly responded.
A dramatic finish in Rabat
The match itself had been tense long before the controversy. Nigeria and DR Congo were 1-1 after extra time, and neither side created many chances in the final minutes.
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Supporters inside the stadium, many wrapped in flags and chanting through the evening, watched the shootout unfold in near-silence.
DR Congo eventually sealed the win, 4-3, earning a place in March’s intercontinental play-off round.
What’s at stake for DR Congo
For DR Congo, the victory keeps alive the possibility of returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1974. The play-offs, which will be held in Mexico, one of the hosts of the 2026 tournament along with the United States and Canada, will determine whether the Congolese can complete a historic qualification run.
A new coach under early scrutiny
Chelle, who led Mali to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations before taking charge of Nigeria this year, was hired with a clear mandate: bring the Super Eagles back to the global stage.
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The loss in Rabat, combined with the public dispute following the shootout, is likely to intensify the scrutiny surrounding his short tenure.
Some Nigerian journalists noted that the coach appeared visibly shaken in the post-match zone, pausing several times before answering questions about the team’s next steps.
With no comment yet from DR Congo’s federation and Nigeria facing a difficult path through the remaining qualifiers, the controversy may fade, but the pressure on Chelle and his squad is set to grow in the weeks ahead.
Sources: Ouest-France, AFP, match broadcast footage
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