Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Sékou Chelle, has stirred controversy after alleging that DR Congo used voodoo, locally known as juju, during Sunday night’s World Cup play-off penalty shootout that ended the Super Eagles’ qualification hopes.
The claim surfaced in a viral ESPN video, which captured a heated confrontation on the touchline between Chelle and members of the DR Congo bench during the dramatic shootout in Rabat.
Chelle, visibly upset in the footage, was seen struggling with a Congolese official whom he accused of attempting to influence the penalty shootout through mystical means
Speaking after the match, the Super Eagles coach said:
“A guy from Congo did some voodoo. He was holding something in a plastic bottle. I don’t know if it was water or something else
Chelle explained that the official repeatedly waved the bottle each time a Nigerian player stepped up to take a penalty, which left him feeling uneasy.
“I saw him waving the content every time, and I was a little nervous after him,” he added.
The incident has further fueled tensions following Nigeria’s 4–3 penalty shootout defeat, which marked the second consecutive World Cup the Super Eagles will miss.
DR Congo officials have not publicly responded to the allegation, but the clip has intensified debate among fans and analysts, with many calling for CAF to review the footage and investigate the matter.
