Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle, has accused DR Congo of resorting to “voodoo” tactics during the penalty shoot-out that saw his team crash out of the World Cup qualifiers.
The dramatic match ended 1-1 after extra time, with DR Congo winning the shoot-out to progress to the final stage of the qualifying play-offs.
Chelle expressed his frustration, claiming that members of DR Congo’s backroom staff were using “voodoo” rituals to distract Nigerian players during the penalty kicks.
“I saw someone in their technical area using something, maybe water or something, to try and jinx our players,” Chelle said.
The incident led to a heated exchange between Chelle and DR Congo’s coaching staff, with the Nigerian coach storming into the opposition’s technical area.
DR Congo coach, SΓ©bastien Desabre, downplayed the incident, saying it was “not an issue”.
The defeat marks Nigeria’s second consecutive World Cup failure, having missed out on the 2022 tournament.
Match Details:
- Nigeria 1-1 DR Congo (DR Congo won 4-2 on penalties)
- Goal: Frank Onyeka (Nigeria), Meschak Elia (DR Congo)
- Venue: Morocco
