WCQ: Chelle claims DR Congo official used voodoo during penalty shootout

Nigeria's head coach, Eric Chelle, has claimed that a staff member from DR Congo engaged in "voodoo" during the penalty shootout of the World Cup playoff held on Sunday in Rabat, which resulted in the Super Eagles being eliminated from the race for the 2026 tournament.

The term voodoo is often used to refer to a variety of traditional spiritual or ritual practices, although it is frequently misapplied or misunderstood in discussions related to sports.

Players, coaches, or fans may assert that their opponents utilize it to sway the outcome of a game, implying that supernatural influences, rather than skill or strategy, were the cause of the result.

Nigeria's journey in the tournament concluded with a 4–3 defeat in the penalty shootout after the match ended in a 1–1 draw over 120 minutes at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

This defeat signifies that the Super Eagles will be absent from the World Cup for the second consecutive time.

In a video shared by ESPN Africa on X on Monday, which featured Chelle addressing reporters post-match, he expressed that his reaction stemmed from frustration after observing repeated gestures from a member of DR Congo's technical staff during the video assistant referee review concerning a penalty incident.

"Throughout the penalty decisions, a person from Congo performed some voodoo... Every time, every time, every time. This is why I felt a bit anxious after him," he stated.

When prompted to clarify what he observed, Chelle gestured and remarked: "Something like that. I am unsure if it was water or something similar."

These allegations could not be independently substantiated.

Nigeria initially took the lead with Frank Onyeka scoring in the third minute, but M. Elia equalized for DR Congo in the 32nd minute.

Both teams had opportunities during extra time, yet neither was able to secure a winning goal.

The penalty shootout fluctuated in momentum.

Calvin Bassey and Moses Simon were unable to convert Nigeria's initial kicks, while Nwabali managed to save DR Congo's first attempt, maintaining the balance of the contest.

Akor Adams' shot kept Nigeria in the running before DR Congo successfully converted their fourth penalty, clinching the 4–3 victory.

The outcome propels DR Congo into the intercontinental playoff, providing an opportunity to obtain one of the last spots for the expanded 48-team World Cup, which is set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Nigeria advanced to the final following a thrilling 4–1 victory over Gabon in Thursday’s semi-final, whereas DR Congo triumphed over Cameroon with a score of 1–0 to secure their position.

The Leopards are now poised to learn who their playoff rival will be as they continue their quest for qualification, while the Super Eagles’ aspirations came to a heartbreaking conclusion in Rabat.