Former Nigeria striker Yakubu has launched a scathing attack on national team coach Eric Chelle, branding his suggestion that voodoo was behind the Super Eagles' failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup as a source of national shame.
A Costly Penalty Shootout Defeat
The controversy stems from Nigeria's dramatic exit from the CAF play-off final, held in the Moroccan capital Rabat. The crucial match, which determined Africa's final representative for the 2026 tournament, ended in a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo.
The game had finished 1-1 in normal time. Frank Onyeka had given Nigeria the lead with a deflected effort, but Meschak Elia capitalised on a mistake by Wilfried Ndidi to equalise for DR Congo in the first half.
In the ensuing shootout, Nigeria's composure deserted them. Calvin Bassey and Moses Simon missed the first two penalties before Semi Ajayi saw his sudden-death spot-kick saved by DR Congo goalkeeper Timothy Fayulu. DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba, who had scored the winner in their semi-final victory over Cameroon, stepped up to convert the decisive penalty and send his nation through.
Chelle's Outburst and Yakubu's Fury
Following Mbemba's winning penalty, a visibly agitated Eric Chelle confronted the opposing coaching staff on the touchline and had to be physically restrained. In explaining his actions post-match, the Mali-born coach made the extraordinary claim that "the players of Congo did some voodoo."
This remark has drawn fierce criticism from one of Nigeria's most celebrated football exports. Yakubu, who earned 57 caps for his country and made 252 Premier League appearances for clubs including Everton and Portsmouth, did not mince his words in an interview with SportsCasting.
"If it was down to Voodoo, I think an African country would have won the World Cup a long time ago," stated the former striker, dismissing the supernatural explanation outright.
He accused Chelle of bringing disgrace upon Nigeria with his comments. "He just needed to congratulate DR Congo and say well done for winning, rather than bringing shame to Nigeria," Yakubu said. "He is a shame to Nigeria, a coach coming out and saying it’s because of voodoo. We lost on penalties, he tried to fight someone and they had to pull him back. It is not a good look for him or for Nigeria."
Analysing the Defeat and Looking Ahead
Yakubu offered a more pragmatic assessment of the defeat, pointing to the immense pressure of the occasion. "Our penalties were quite poor. The pressure was too much for the players to deal with," he conceded.
The victory marks a historic achievement for DR Congo, who have only appeared at the World Cup finals once before, back in 1974 when the nation competed under the name Zaire. Their reward for winning the CAF play-off final is a place in March's inter-continental play-offs, where they will face teams including Bolivia and New Caledonia for a final spot at the 2026 tournament.
For Nigeria, the failure to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup is a significant blow. The fallout from the match, exacerbated by Chelle's controversial remarks and Yakubu's powerful rebuttal, leaves the Super Eagles and their coaching staff facing intense scrutiny and a period of painful reflection.
