2026 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER:- Super Eagles Coach Alleges ‘Juju’ Incident in Playoff Loss to DR Congo
Nigeria’s head coach, Éric Chelle, has attributed the tense post-match altercation during Sunday’s World Cup playoff final to what he described as a ritualistic act performed by a member of the DR Congo technical crew during the penalty shootout.
Speaking to journalists after the match, Chelle said he reacted angrily upon noticing what appeared to be repeated ritual gestures referred to locally as “juju” by a DR Congo staff member each time a Nigerian player approached to take a penalty.
“During the penalty session, the guy from DR Congo did some voodoo,” Chelle said. “Every time a Nigerian player stepped up, he did something. I saw something like water or something similar, and that’s why I reacted the way I did.”
DR Congo defeated Nigeria 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 120 minutes regular play.
The tense encounter ended Nigeria’s dreams of participating in the 2026 world cup, handing DR Congo the sole African berth in the FIFA intercontinental playoff scheduled for March in Mexico.
The result means the three times African champions failed to qualify back to back for the World Cup for the first time after their debut in 1994.
