Eric Chelle Accuses DR Congo Of ‘Doing Voodoo’ After Nigeria Misses 2026 World Cup

Eric Chelle claims DR Congo used “voodoo” during penalties as Nigeria miss 2026 World Cup in a dramatic shootout defeat.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles fell short of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup after losing to DR Congo 4-3 on penalties in the African World Cup playoffs final. The match had ended 1-1 after extra time, but it is Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle’s extraordinary claims about the Congolese team that have dominated post-match discussion.

Chelle, a Franco-Malian, alleged that DR Congo employed voodoo rituals during the penalty shootout, saying it contributed to Nigeria’s misfortune. “During all the penalty sessions, the DR Congo did some voodoo. Every time. Every time. That was why I was a bit nervous,” he told reporters.

The coach claimed he saw someone on the DR Congo bench using “something water” to jinx the Nigerian players. The comments came after Calvin Bassey, Moses Simon, and Semi Ajayi missed their penalties, while Chancel Mbemba converted the decisive kick to send DR Congo into the intercontinental playoffs.

Tensions ran high after the final penalty, with Chelle confronting the DR Congo bench. Officials had to step in to prevent a physical altercation.

Nigeria’s failure to qualify marks a historic low for the Super Eagles, who also missed the 2022 World Cup. This is the first time the nation has missed two consecutive World Cups since their debut in 1994.