"We Lost by Magic": Nigeria Coach Accuses Congo of Practicing "Voodoo"

The head coach of the Nigerian national team, Eric Chelle, accused the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) players of "practicing magic" during their penalty shootout victory over the "Super Eagles" on Sunday.

DR Congo reached the global playoff stage for the 2026 World Cup after eliminating Nigeria with a 4-3 penalty shootout win, following a 1-1 draw in both regular and extra time in the African playoff final.

Details of the Altercation and Accusation

An altercation erupted between Chelle and several members of the Congolese technical staff, including head coach Sébastien Desabre, after Congo's Chancel Mbemba scored the decisive penalty kick.

• Chelle’s Account: Chelle gave his version of events at the post-match press conference, first stating in French: "The DR Congo players were practicing magic." He later reiterated his claims in English to the media, saying: "During all the penalties, the Congo players were practicing voodoo," a term referring to black magic in some beliefs.

• Congo’s Response: A representative of the DR Congo national team denied Chelle's allegations when questioned by The Athletic.

• Desabre's Reaction: Congo's coach, Sébastien Desabre, initially downplayed the altercation, saying it "was not a problem," before Chelle revealed the reason behind it.

Congo Advances to Global Playoffs

With this victory, the "Leopards" (DR Congo) advanced to the global playoffs, which will take place in March 2026. The six-team playoff includes Congo, the winner of the Asian playoff (Iraq or UAE), Bolivia (from South America), New Caledonia (from Oceania), and two teams representing the North and Central American and Caribbean association (CONCACAF).