Nigeria's hopes of qualifying for the World Cup were dramatically ended in a penalty shoot-out defeat to DR Congo, a match subsequently shrouded in controversy after the Nigerian head coach alleged the opposition resorted to supernatural tactics.
Dramatic Shoot-Out Ends Nigerian World Cup Dream
After a tense 1-1 draw in the CAF play-off final held on Monday, the match went to a penalty shoot-out where DR Congo emerged victorious with a 4-3 win. The decisive moment came when DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba, who had also scored the winner in the semi-final against Cameroon, calmly converted the winning spot-kick. This victory keeps DR Congo's World Cup dream alive, sending them through to the intercontinental play-offs.
Nigeria's shoot-out performance was plagued by errors from the start. Defender Calvin Bassey and winger Moses Simon both missed their first two penalties, putting the Super Eagles at an immediate disadvantage. Although the team managed to recover somewhat, a crucial save by DR Congo goalkeeper Timothy Fayulu from Semi Ajayi's sudden-death penalty set the stage for Mbemba's winning moment.
Coach's Extraordinary 'Voodoo' Allegation
The aftermath of the match took a sensational turn when Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle confronted the opposing team's coaching staff immediately following the final penalty. When questioned by reporters in the mixed zone about the confrontation, Chelle made a stunning accusation.
"During the penalty shoot-out, the players of Congo did some voodoo. Every time, every time. So this is why," Chelle stated, attributing his team's loss to what he perceived as supernatural interference from the DR Congo camp.
Match Context and Historical Significance
The match itself saw Frank Onyeka give Nigeria an early lead with a deflected opener, but DR Congo equalised in the first half through Meschak Elia, who capitalised on a mistake by Wilfried Ndidi. Throughout the match, DR Congo were widely considered the better team, though neither side could find a winning goal during extra time, leading to the fateful penalty shoot-out.
The result represents a significant blow for Nigerian football, marking the second consecutive World Cup finals the team has failed to qualify for. Nigeria had previously missed out on automatic qualification after finishing behind South Africa in their group phase.
For DR Congo, the victory represents a historic opportunity. The nation has only appeared in the World Cup once before, back in 1974 when the country competed under the name Zaire. As winners of the CAF play-off final held in Rabat, Morocco, DR Congo will now advance to March's inter-continental play-offs, where they will compete against teams including Bolivia and New Caledonia for a place in the global tournament.
