Nigeria’s football coach, Eric Chelle, has attributed his squad’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup to unusual circumstances, claiming that a member of the Democratic Republic of Congo team practised voodoo during the match.
The Super Eagles drew 1-1 with DR Congo after extra time in the African play-offs final in Rabat on Sunday. DR Congo won 4-3 on penalties, securing a place in the inter-confederation play-offs in Mexico next March.
In post-match remarks, Chelle said he observed a DR Congo team member making hand gestures that seemed like sprinkling or shaking something.
Nigeria, ranked 19 places above DR Congo, entered the match as favorites but failed to qualify for the second consecutive World Cup, a first since their debut in 1994. While Nigeria has been a regular at the tournament, DR Congo, then called Zaire, last appeared in 1974. The loss marks another setback for the Super Eagles, who were aiming to secure their place at football’s biggest stage.
