Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has stirred controversy after accusing DR Congo players of using “voodoo” during the penalty shoot-out that knocked the Super Eagles out of contention for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nigeria suffered a painful 4-3 defeat on penalties in the CAF play-off final following a tense 1-1 draw. DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba converted the decisive kick to push his team into the intercontinental play-offs and officially end Nigeria’s World Cup hopes for the second consecutive tournament.
The shoot-out started poorly for Nigeria. Calvin Bassey and Moses Simon missed their first attempts, immediately putting the Super Eagles at a disadvantage. Though Nigeria briefly recovered, Semi Ajayi’s miss in sudden death — saved by DR Congo goalkeeper Timothy Fayulu — opened the door for Mbemba to seal the win.
Moments after the match, Chelle confronted members of DR Congo’s technical bench. According to The Athletic, he later spoke in the mixed zone, alleging misconduct by the Congolese players.
“During the penalty shoot-out, the players of Congo did some voodoo. Every time, every time. So this is why,” he claimed, implying that the actions somehow influenced the outcome. His comments have already sparked debate, with many questioning the basis of the accusation.
Nigeria initially took the lead through Frank Onyeka, who finished off a well-worked move to put the Super Eagles ahead. However, a costly mistake from Wilfred Ndidi gifted DR Congo an equaliser, with Meschak Elia pouncing to level the game.
Both teams battled through extra time in search of a winner, but neither side could break the deadlock, sending the tie to penalties.
The result marks a historic moment for DR Congo. The Central African nation, whose sole World Cup appearance came in 1974 as Zaire, now advances to the March intercontinental play-offs in Rabat. They will face opponents including Bolivia and New Caledonia for one of the final tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s elimination has intensified scrutiny of the national team setup. Missing the World Cup twice in a row is being viewed as a major setback for a nation that has long been considered one of Africa’s football heavyweights.
Chelle’s allegations are expected to draw further attention in the coming days as CAF, fans, and analysts react to his claims and the Super Eagles’ disappointing exit.
