Nigeria coach Eric Chelle accuses DR Congo of using “Voodoo” during penalty shoot-out defeat in World Cup qualifying

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has claimed that the Democratic Republic of Congo employed “voodoo” during the penalty shootout that sealed Nigeria’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup qualifying playoff final in Morocco.

Chelle made the remarks on Sunday while speaking to reporters after a tense encounter that ended in a 1–1 draw after 120 minutes.

Nigeria had taken the lead in the third minute through Frank Onyeka’s deflected strike, but Meschak Elia equalized for DR Congo later in the first half. With no further goals in regulation or extra time, the match went to penalties, where DR Congo emerged victorious.

The tension boiled over after Chancel Mbemba scored the decisive penalty. Chelle stormed toward the DR Congo technical area, confronting staff members including head coach Sébastien Desabre, before being held back by Nigerian officials. Desabre later dismissed the incident, telling journalists it was “not an issue.”

Chelle, however, insisted that members of the Congolese bench performed “voodoo” rituals during each penalty kick. “During all the penalty sessions, the guy from Congo did some voodoo,” Chelle said. “Every time, so this is why I was a little nervous after him.”

When pressed for details, Chelle added: “Yeah, something like, I don’t know if it’s water or something like that [he was spraying it up].”

The defeat prolongs Nigeria’s World Cup frustrations. The Super Eagles also failed to qualify for the 2022 tournament, marking the first time they have missed consecutive World Cups since their debut in 1994.