Nigeria vs DR Congo: Why Super Eagles Coach Eric Chelle Blamed 'Voodoo' for Playoff Heartbreak

Nigeria’s head coach Eric Chelle has alleged that DR Congo’s players were practicing “voodoo” during their penalty shootout victory over his side on Sunday.

The outburst was the explosive culmination of a high-stakes, high-pressure playoff final that saw Nigeria's World Cup dreams evaporate. 

The Super Eagles, who will now miss a second straight tournament, were bundled out after a 1-1 draw led to the agonizing drama of penalties.

Chelle’s frustration boiled over immediately after Chancel Mbemba scored the decisive spot kick. The Malian had to be physically restrained by his own staff as he angrily confronted DR Congo’s head coach, Sebastien Desabre, and other members of their bench.

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The incident threatened to overshadow the match itself, but Chelle later doubled down, offering a bizarre explanation for his fury and his team's nervousness during the shootout.

“During the penalty session, a guy from Congo did some voodoo every time, every time…so this is why I was a little nervous after him” Chelle said.

The frustration that led to Chelle's post-match confrontation was built on 120 minutes of anxiety and a qualifying campaign defined by stumbles. 

Nigeria, desperate to return to the world stage, started the final perfectly with an early goal from Frank Onyeka.

But the optimism was short-lived. DR Congo, chasing their own history, struck back later in the first half with an equalizer from Meschack Elia.

A scoreless second half and 30 minutes of extra time saw no breakthrough, despite the stakes. But for Nigeria, the substitution of star striker Victor Osimhen at halftime remains a major question mark in a night that ended in failure.

The result leaves Nigeria, a three-time African champion, in shambles, having missed a third World Cup since 2006.

Their hero, Chancel Mbemba, not only scored the winning penalty but was also the man who scored in added time in their 1-0 semi-final win against Cameroon just days earlier. The Leopards have not been to a World Cup since 1974 (as Zaire) but are now one step away.

They will advance to a six-team inter-confederation playoff in March, facing teams from Concacaf, CONMEBOL, Oceania, and Asia for one of the final two spots at the 2026 World Cup.

When asked about the heated exchange with Chelle, DR Congo's coach Sebastien Desabre was dismissive, clearly focused on his team's triumph rather than his opponent's allegations.

Desabre, who appeared for his press conference first, stated that the altercation was “not an issue”.