Nigeria coach accuses DR Congo of voodoo after the Super Eagles were eliminated from 2026 World Cup qualifying in dramatic fashion. Head coach Éric Chelle publicly claimed that a member of DR Congo’s technical staff performed ritualistic actions during the penalty shootout, contributing to his team’s 4–3 defeat.
The controversy erupted after a tense CAF playoff final in Rabat, where Nigeria and DR Congo drew 1–1 in regular time. Chelle appeared visibly frustrated in the technical area as the shootout concluded with a decisive penalty by Chancel Mbemba that sealed Nigeria’s exit. In post-match remarks, he described seeing “something like water or something like that” being “shaken” by an opponent.
Chelle repeated his accusation, saying: “During all the penalties, a guy from Congo did some voodoo … every time, every time, every time.” He explained that the alleged rituals made him “a little nervous,” suggesting they affected his team’s focus.
DR Congo’s staff have not confirmed or denied the claims, and no independent evidence has yet substantiated Chelle’s accusations. Meanwhile, analysts warn that such claims can deepen tension between teams and fuel superstition within African football.
The fallout comes at a high cost: Nigeria has now failed to qualify for back-to-back World Cups. Critics argue that Chelle is deflecting from tactical or performance issues, while others call for a calm investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, the Super Eagles must regroup and address deeper structural challenges if they are to return to the global stage.
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