Nigeria’s coach, Eric Chelle, has claimed that a member of DR Congo’s staff used “voodoo” during the penalty shootout of Sunday’s World Cup playoff in Rabat. The Super Eagles were knocked out of the race for the 2026 World Cup after losing the shootout.
The word “voodoo” is often used to describe different traditional spiritual practices, but in sports it is usually mentioned in an exaggerated or misleading way. Players, coaches, and fans sometimes accuse opponents of using it to affect a game, suggesting that supernatural powers, not football skill influenced the result.
Nigeria lost 4–3 on penalties after the match ended 1–1 across 120 minutes at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. The defeat means the Super Eagles will miss the World Cup for the second time in a row.
In a video posted by ESPN Africa on X on Monday, Chelle spoke to reporters after the match. He said he reacted angrily because he kept seeing a DR Congo staff member making repeated hand movements during the VAR check for a penalty.
“During all the penalty decision, one of the Congo guys was doing some voodoo… Every time, every time,” Chelle said. “That’s why I was a little angry at him.”
When journalists asked him to describe what he saw, Chelle made a gesture and said: “Something like that. I don’t know if it was water or something else.”
These claims could not be confirmed.
Ogun Watch reports that Nigeria took an early lead through Frank Onyeka in the third minute, before M. Elia equalised for DR Congo in the 32nd minute. Both teams had chances in extra time, but no one scored.
The penalty shootout was tense. Calvin Bassey and Moses Simon missed Nigeria’s early kicks, while Nwabali saved DR Congo’s first attempt. Akor Adams scored to keep Nigeria alive, but DR Congo scored their fourth penalty to win 4–3.
The win sends DR Congo into the intercontinental playoff, where they will fight for a spot at the expanded 48-team World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Nigeria reached the final after a 4–1 extra-time victory over Gabon on Thursday, while DR Congo beat Cameroon 1–0 to qualify. The Leopards now wait to know their playoff opponent, while Nigeria’s World Cup hopes ended painfully in Rabat.
