World Cup Dream Ends in Penalty Drama and Voodoo Claims
Nigeria's hopes of reaching the next men's World Cup were dramatically extinguished after a penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo, a match overshadowed by extraordinary allegations from Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle. The Nigerian boss claimed the opposition engaged in 'voodoo' practices throughout the decisive shootout, leading to a fiery confrontation between the technical teams.
Dramatic Sideline Confrontation Mars Decisive Penalty
The tense qualifier, which ended 1-1 after regular time, proceeded to penalties where DR Congo eventually triumphed 4-3. However, the shootout was interrupted by a significant off-the-ball incident. Footage circulated on social media shows Eric Chelle attempting to confront members of the DR Congo coaching staff just as the final penalty was about to be taken.
The former Mali international was captured with his arms outstretched, shouting towards the opposition bench before seemingly picking up a water bottle. He had to be physically restrained by his own staff. As DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba scored the winning penalty, Chelle again made a move towards the opposite bench and was once more held back by his colleagues.
Post-Match Allegations and Denials
When questioned about the explosive incident after the match, Chelle did not hold back. He directly alleged that the confrontation was a response to witnessing occult practices from the DR Congo camp. 'During the entire penalty shootout, the guy from DR Congo was doing voodoo,' Chelle stated to reporters. 'Every time, every time, every time. That's why I was a little nervous after him.'
Asked to demonstrate what he saw, the Nigeria coach swung his right arm in the air, adding, 'Something like that. I don't know if it was water or something.' In response to these serious claims, a representative for the DR Congo team has issued a firm denial, as reported by the Athletic.
The match itself saw Nigeria take an early lead through Frank Onyeka's goal in the third minute, but DR Congo drew level half an hour later thanks to Meschack Elia. The game lost momentum for Nigeria when star striker Victor Osimhen was forced off at half-time due to injury.
Consequences for Both Nations
The victory continues DR Congo's remarkable run, coming just days after Mbemba's stoppage-time winner against Cameroon in the semi-final. The result means DR Congo will advance to the intercontinental play-offs in March 2025, where six nations will compete for the final two spots at the World Cup. They join Bolivia and New Caledonia as confirmed participants.
For Nigeria, the defeat is a devastating blow. It marks the second successive World Cup the Super Eagles will miss, having also been absent from the tournament in Qatar 2022. This is a significant fall for a nation that has been a regular fixture at the World Cup since its 1994 debut, with only Cameroon, Morocco and Tunisia having more African appearances than Nigeria's six.
