WCQ: How DR Congo Official Used Voodoo to Defeat Nigeria – Coach Chelle
By AbdulRahman TiwaTope
Nigeria coach Eric Chelle has stirred fresh controversy after claiming that a member of DR Congo’s backroom staff engaged in ritual-like actions during the penalty shootout that ended the Super Eagles’ pursuit of the 2026 FIFA World Cup ticket in Rabat.
His comments surfaced in the aftermath of Nigeria’s 4–3 defeat on penalties on Sunday, a result that came after both sides battled to a 1–1 draw over 120 minutes at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
In describing the incident, Chelle referenced what he called repeated gestures from an individual in DR Congo’s technical area while the video assistant referee was reviewing a penalty-related situation.
According to the coach, those gestures appeared suspicious and provoked a reaction from him during the tense closing moments of the encounter.
A video shared by ESPN Africa on X on Monday captured Chelle speaking to journalists, where he claimed the official was performing what he loosely described as “voodoo,” a term often misused in sports to suggest supernatural interference.
In his words, “During all the penalty decision, a guy of Congo did some voodoo… every time, every time. So this is why I was a little nervous after him.”
Pressed further to clarify what he observed, Chelle mimicked the gestures and added, “Something like that. I don’t know if it’s water or something like that.”
At the moment, there has been no independent verification of the coach’s claims, which have added another layer of debate to Nigeria’s elimination and the broader conversation about superstition in African football.
The defeat means the Super Eagles will miss the World Cup for the second successive edition.
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