Nigeria Coach Alleges “Voodoo” Presence After Shootout Loss to DR Congo
Nigeria’s head coach, Éric Chelle, has raised eyebrows by claiming that “voodoo” may have influenced the outcome of the penalty shootout in their recent match against DR Congo, which marked a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s quest to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
In a dramatic qualifier, Frank Onyeka gave Nigeria the lead, but Meschack Elia equalized for DR Congo, sending the match to a tense penalty shootout. Ultimately, DR Congo secured a 4-3 victory, thus keeping their World Cup aspirations alive while eliminating Nigeria.
Following this setback, which ensures Nigeria will miss the World Cup for the second consecutive time, Chelle expressed his frustration during a press conference. “During all the penalty decisions, the guy from Congo did some voodoo. Every time… Every time. This is why I was a little nervous after him,” he told reporters, referring to the DR Congo bench.
When pressed for further details, Chelle gestured with his arm but was unable to elaborate on the specifics of his claim. “Something like that [waving his arm]. You know, I don’t know if it’s water or something like that,” he added.
This defeat was particularly disappointing for Nigeria as they faced a team ranked 19 places below them, marking their third missed World Cup since 2006.
In response to the loss, the Nigeria Football Federation released a statement apologizing to the fans and the country’s leadership. “The Nigeria Football Federation wishes to openly and sincerely apologize to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to the Federal Government, and to millions of Nigerians, especially our passionate, loyal football fans, following the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals,” the message stated.
The federation expressed deep sorrow over the loss, describing it as a moment of profound sadness for Nigerian football. “For a nation where the Super Eagles symbolize unity, hope, and collective pride, missing out on the World Cup for a second time is a disappointment of great weight and emotional depth,” they concluded.
“The NFF, technical staff, and players understand the significance of this moment, as well as the expectations Nigerians rightly hold. We recognize the passion and sacrifice of a country that has always stood firmly behind its team, and we acknowledge that our collective efforts fell short of the outcome this nation deserved.”
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