 |
| Eric Chelle |
In a bizarre twist after Sunday’s intense World Cup playoff in Rabat, Nigeria’s coach Eric Chelle accused a DR Congo staff member of performing “voodoo” rituals during the nerve-wracking penalty shootout that knocked the Super Eagles out of the 2026 World Cup race.
Chelle, speaking to journalists shortly after Nigeria’s heartbreaking loss, revealed his frustration at seeing what he described as mysterious gestures from someone in the DR Congo technical area while the video assistant referee (VAR) reviewed a penalty decision.
“Every time during the penalty decisions, a guy from Congo was doing some voodoo… every time, every time,” Chelle said, visibly unsettled. When asked what he meant, he mimicked strange hand movements, jokingly unsure if it involved water or some unknown ritual.
While “voodoo” is often a catch-all phrase for mystical or traditional spiritual acts in sports banter, it’s rare to hear a coach so openly call it out. No independent confirmation has surfaced to support Chelle’s claims.
On the pitch, the Super Eagles had taken an early lead thanks to Frank Onyeka’s goal in the third minute. DR Congo’s M. Elia equalized in the 32nd minute, pushing the match into a tense extra time that failed to produce a winner.
The penalty shootout was a rollercoaster: Nigeria’s Calvin Bassey and Moses Simon missed early attempts, while goalkeeper Nwabali kept Nigeria’s hopes alive by saving DR Congo’s first shot. Akor Adams scored to keep things close, but DR Congo’s fourth penalty clinched their 4-3 victory.
This loss means Nigeria will miss the World Cup for the second straight time.
Meanwhile, DR Congo advances to the intercontinental playoff stage, keeping their dreams alive of reaching the expanded 48-team World Cup set for the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Earlier, Nigeria had powered through with a dramatic 4-1 extra-time win over Gabon, while DR Congo edged out Cameroon 1-0 to reach the final showdown.
As the Leopards look forward to their next challenge, the Super Eagles’ journey ended in a match remembered not just for the scoreline but also for the unusual claim of on-field sorcery.
0 comments:
Post a Comment