Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has made a startling claim after Nigeria’s painful World Cup playoff exit, alleging a member of DR Congo’s technical staff of using “voodoo” during the tense penalty shootout in Rabat.
The coach said the gesture-filled actions he witnessed on the touchline unsettled him and contributed to his reaction during the VAR delay.
Chelle made the allegation shortly after Nigeria fell 4–3 on penalties, following a 1–1 draw across 120 minutes in the playoff clash.
The defeat means the Super Eagles will miss the FIFA World Cup for the second tournament in a row — a major blow for a team that had hoped to rebuild momentum under its new coach.
Speaking to journalists after the match, Chelle claimed he repeatedly saw unusual movements from a DR Congo staff member while VAR was reviewing a penalty incident.
“During all the penalty decision, a guy of Congo did some voodoo… Every time, every time, every time. So this is why I was a little nervous after him,” he said. When asked to describe what he saw, he replied while demonstrating with his hands: “Something like that. I don’t know if it’s water or something like that.”
His claims have not been independently verified, and officials from both sides have not issued further comments.
On the field, Nigeria started brightly. Frank Onyeka scored in the third minute, giving fans hope of a comfortable night. But DR Congo equalised just before the half-hour mark through Meschack Elia. Both teams created chances in extra time, yet neither found a winner.
The penalty shootout shifted back and forth. Nigeria missed two early kicks, while Stanley Nwabali kept the team alive with a save. Akor Adams’ effort offered brief hope, but DR Congo converted their final strike to seal the 4–3 win and progress to the intercontinental playoff.
The result sends the Leopards forward in their World Cup campaign, while Nigeria’s journey ends in disappointment once again.
Many fans have expressed frustration, pointing to missed chances, lack of composure, and the emotional weight surrounding Chelle’s post-match comments.
Prior to the match, Nigeria had reached the final of the playoff series after a dramatic 4–1 extra-time win against Gabon, while DR Congo advanced by edging Cameroon 1–0.
